Ready to Laugh? See What Comedies are Hitting Theaters in 2012
2011's comedy movies didn't live up to expectations and we can only hope 2012 delivers more laughs for our ticket-buying bucks. This year's batch of hopefully funny films (listed below in alphabetical order) includes sequels (Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, American Reunion, Men in Black 3), a spin-off (This is Forty), and a remake (Gambit), along with...gasp...a few original stories. And comedy veterans Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Jonah Hill, Cameron Diaz, Simon Pegg, Eddie Murphy, Zach Galifianakis, Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Queen Latifah, Seth Rogen, Sacha Baron Cohen and Katherine Heigl all contribute efforts to 2011's roster of comedy films.
In Related News:The Top 10 Comedies of 2012
The Plot: Schmidt and Jenko sign up for the special Jump Street unit, taking advantage of how young they look to go undercover at a high school. Their task: to investigate a violent and dangerous drug ring. However, it doesn't take them long to figure high school's changed in the few years since they graduated. They have to face all the stress and anxiety of being teenagers once again as they re-enter the dreaded world of high school cliques. (Based on the TV series with Johnny Depp)
Release Date: March 16, 2012More »
The Plot: Simon Pegg stars as the author of children's books first, crime novels next, who develops a fear of being murdered after spending a lengthy amount of time researching Victorian serial killers.
Release Date: June 8, 2012More »
The Plot: Eddie Murphy stars as a man who finds out he only has 1,000 words left to say before he dies.
Release Date: March 9, 2012
The Plot: The American Pie gang is back as we catch up with married couple Jim and Michelle and their high school friends Kevin, Vicky, Oz, Heather, Finch - and Stifler's hot mom.
Release Date: April 6, 2012More »
The Plot: Based on a true story, Nick Flynn (Paul Dano) has his life disrupted following the reappearance of his eccentric father, Jonathan (Robert De Niro). Jonathan comes back into his life as Nick's still adjusting to the death of his mother (Julianne Moore) and while he's just in the early stages of a relationship with Denise (Olivia Thirlby). But although Jonathan's reappearance is a shock, Nick soon realizes good can come of the opportunity to reconnect with his dad and that it can affect both of their lives positively. (Based on the book Another Bullsh*t Day in Suck City)
Release Date: March 2, 2012More »
The Plot:Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis star as rival Southern politicians in this comedy directed by Jay Roach (Dinner for Schmucks).
Release Date: August 10, 2012More »
The Plot:Casa de mi Padre pays homage to classic Westerns and telenovelas, with Will Ferrell starring as Armando Alvarez, a rancher who's worked on his father's place in Mexico his whole life. But the ranch isn't doing well financially and needs to be rescued by Armando's little brother, Raul (Diego Luna), who comes home with his beautiful fiancee, Sonia (Genesis Rodriguez). Things go wrong when Armando falls for his brother's woman and it turns out Raul's money hasn't been made by keeping his nose clean. Gael Garcia Bernal co-stars as Onza, the most dangerous of all Mexican drug lords.
Release Date: March 16, 2012More »
The Plot: Greg has to figure out how to fill his summer days after his plans go astray.
Release Date: August 3, 2012
The Plot: Inspired by the book Zabibah and The King, The Dictator stars Sacha Baron Cohen as a dictator who does everything in his power to make sure democracy never comes to his repressed country.
Release Date: May 16, 2012More »
The Plot: Jason Segel and Emily Blunt play a couple who have to keep putting off their wedding date, much to the disappointment of various family members and friends.
Release Date: April 27, 2012More »
In Related News:The Top 10 Comedies of 2012
1. '21 Jump Street'
Starring:Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, and Brie LarsonThe Plot: Schmidt and Jenko sign up for the special Jump Street unit, taking advantage of how young they look to go undercover at a high school. Their task: to investigate a violent and dangerous drug ring. However, it doesn't take them long to figure high school's changed in the few years since they graduated. They have to face all the stress and anxiety of being teenagers once again as they re-enter the dreaded world of high school cliques. (Based on the TV series with Johnny Depp)
Release Date: March 16, 2012More »
2. 'A Fantastic Fear of Everything'
Starring:Simon Pegg, Clare Higgins, and Amara KaranThe Plot: Simon Pegg stars as the author of children's books first, crime novels next, who develops a fear of being murdered after spending a lengthy amount of time researching Victorian serial killers.
Release Date: June 8, 2012More »
3. 'A Thousand Words'
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Kerry Washington, and Ariel WinterThe Plot: Eddie Murphy stars as a man who finds out he only has 1,000 words left to say before he dies.
Release Date: March 9, 2012
4. 'American Reunion'
Starring:Alyson Hannigan, Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, and Shannon ElizabethThe Plot: The American Pie gang is back as we catch up with married couple Jim and Michelle and their high school friends Kevin, Vicky, Oz, Heather, Finch - and Stifler's hot mom.
Release Date: April 6, 2012More »
5. 'Being Flynn'
Starring:Robert De Niro, Julianne Moore, Paul Dano, Olivia Thirlby, and Lili TaylorThe Plot: Based on a true story, Nick Flynn (Paul Dano) has his life disrupted following the reappearance of his eccentric father, Jonathan (Robert De Niro). Jonathan comes back into his life as Nick's still adjusting to the death of his mother (Julianne Moore) and while he's just in the early stages of a relationship with Denise (Olivia Thirlby). But although Jonathan's reappearance is a shock, Nick soon realizes good can come of the opportunity to reconnect with his dad and that it can affect both of their lives positively. (Based on the book Another Bullsh*t Day in Suck City)
Release Date: March 2, 2012More »
6. 'The Campaign'
Starring:Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis, Jason Sudeikis, and Dylan McDermottThe Plot:Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis star as rival Southern politicians in this comedy directed by Jay Roach (Dinner for Schmucks).
Release Date: August 10, 2012More »
7. 'Casa de mi Padre'
Starring:Will Ferrell, Diego Luna, and Gael Garcia BernalThe Plot:Casa de mi Padre pays homage to classic Westerns and telenovelas, with Will Ferrell starring as Armando Alvarez, a rancher who's worked on his father's place in Mexico his whole life. But the ranch isn't doing well financially and needs to be rescued by Armando's little brother, Raul (Diego Luna), who comes home with his beautiful fiancee, Sonia (Genesis Rodriguez). Things go wrong when Armando falls for his brother's woman and it turns out Raul's money hasn't been made by keeping his nose clean. Gael Garcia Bernal co-stars as Onza, the most dangerous of all Mexican drug lords.
Release Date: March 16, 2012More »
8. 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days'
Starring:Zachary Gordon, Steve Zahn, Rachael Harris, Peyton List, and Devon BostickThe Plot: Greg has to figure out how to fill his summer days after his plans go astray.
Release Date: August 3, 2012
9. 'The Dictator'
Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen and Anna FarisThe Plot: Inspired by the book Zabibah and The King, The Dictator stars Sacha Baron Cohen as a dictator who does everything in his power to make sure democracy never comes to his repressed country.
Release Date: May 16, 2012More »
10. 'The Five-Year Engagement'
Starring:Jason Segel, Emily Blunt, Chris Pratt, Alison Brie and Rhys IfansThe Plot: Jason Segel and Emily Blunt play a couple who have to keep putting off their wedding date, much to the disappointment of various family members and friends.
Release Date: April 27, 2012More »
