Comedy films are often meant to just be an easy watch so critics sometimes diss them even when audiences appreciate them much more.
For the most part, casual moviegoers tune into comedies to simply have a good time. There are obvious ones that stand out as being true greats of the genre but a lot of comedy films are just there so the audience can laugh for 90 or so minutes and nothing more.
Those films can get some negative reviews from critics who are looking for something more from a movie. Thankfully, audience members have gone to IMDb to rate these same movies and more than a few that were dubbed "rotten" on Rotten Tomatoes have scored impressively from the users at IMDb.
It almost seemed like Amanda Bynes was the queen of the teen comedy genre during the 2000s. From What a Girl Wants to Sydney White to a great supporting turn in Easy A, she was everywhere. Her most famous role was likely her leading part in She's The Man.
The film sees Viola (Bynes) disguise herself as a boy at her brother's school to play on their soccer team. Inspired by William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, this movie was met with mixed reviews for predictable jokes but audiences still have a blast watching this. There's also the plus of seeing Channing Tatum before he became a star.
The '90s were the best time for sports movies aimed at children. The most iconic in the realm of football is Little Giants, which tells the story of a group of misfit kids playing Pee-Wee football against the league's best stars. That included Becky "Icebox" O'Shea, who was initially shunned for being a girl.
Coaching these teams are a pair of brothers who also fit the bill of an underdog going against a powerhouse. While the reviews weren't very good, some notable places praised Little Giants for not being run-of-the-mill and for telling a relatable story. In fact, it's that relatability that might be why so many people enjoy it to this day.
There have been so many sports movies made about football, baseball, basketball, tennis, hockey, and more but gymnastics has often been overlooked. Thankfully, Stick It looked to change that by focusing on a troubled teen who returns to the world of gymnastics where she makes enemies, friends, and learns lessons along the way.
Missy Peregrym was praised for her leading performance and there's a surprising supporting role for Jeff Bridges that was liked. However, most critics found nothing special with the movie despite the fact that audiences were much more receptive to it.
As noted, sometimes viewers just come to a comedy movie to laugh and have a great time without worrying about themes, the plot, or anything like that. Eurotrip is perfect for those fans because it's hard to not just have a great time watching this film.
It follows Scott and his friends as they travel through Europe to find his German pen pal. On its own, the film is fun but it's boosted by fantastic cameos from Fred Armisen, Kristin Kreuk, Vinnie Jones, Matt Damon, and more. It also features the legendary "Scotty Doesn't Know" song, so it doesn't even matter that critics didn't like it.
Honestly, you could probably make several lists just about films starring Adam Sandler that critics hated but casual viewers enjoyed. Sandler movies keep getting roasted and labeled as "rotten," yet audiences continue to turn up for them.
While he has plenty of legendary movies, an underrated one is 50 First Dates. The film sees Henry (Sandler) fall for Lucy (Drew Barrymore) only to find that her memory resets daily so she forgets him every night. Audiences and critics both agree that Barrymore and Sandler have an easy chemistry, seen across several movies.
It doesn't seem to matter what the year is because Sandra Bullock is almost certainly going to pull out a memorable role in a film that audiences adore. She did it twice in 2009, including in her Oscar winning performance in The Blind Side.
Prior to that, she starred as Margaret in The Proposal, where she agrees to marry her employee so that she won't get deported back to Canada. While her work and that of Ryan Reynolds were praised, critics found it formulaic. Meanwhile, audiences couldn't stop laughing, especially at the iconic scene where Betty White and Bullock dance in the forest.
During the '90s, Jim Carrey was kind of everywhere. In 1994 alone he starred in Dumb and Dumber, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and The Mask, which are three of the most notable films of the entire decade. During the 2000s, he was a bit more focused on dramatic roles.
That all changed when he returned to his roots in Yes Man. The movie follows Carl (Carrey), a negative man who finally decides to say yes to everything, which completely changes his life. Critics called him the only bright spot but most audiences had fun with the story and the performance of Zooey Deschanel.
There's no doubt that Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is one of the most unique movies ever released. It's not your typical comedy with laugh-out-loud moments, nor does it follow the expected beats of the genre.
Instead, it takes the audience on a wild ride as Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo (Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro) journey through Las Vegas while indulging in psychoactive substances. It flopped both critically and commercially but is now a beloved cult classic that seems to get better with age.
The most recent film to get this kind of mixed review is actually a special one because it's a rarity. Not often does a comedy with lackluster reception from critics end up nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars but Don't Look Up pulled that off.
The Adam McKay movie satirizes the way the world would react if they found out that a planet-killing asteroid was headed towards Earth. Although critics were divided, most viewers seemed to like it and they loved the star-studded cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, and more.
If you need further proof that the '90s were the best time for sports movies, especially ones geared towards kids, look no further than The Mighty Ducks. As was the trope of the era, the film focuses on a group of Pee-Wee hockey players who are underdogs but band together under their coach.
The film was such a hit that it spawned multiple sequels, a current Disney+ series, and even a real NHL team. Critics dissed it for being predictable but there are many people who still rewatch this as a timeless classic today.
