There are a few excellent direct-to-video films hiding beneath the large-budget comedy projects that rule the enormous Hollywood landscape and always have successful theatrical runs. These films typically have lesser-known casts and simple sets because their budgets are smaller. Fortunately, this seldom becomes an issue because comedy is around actions, words, and plots.
Even though many of these direct-to-video films fall short of the standard of the major studio releases, they are nonetheless quite entertaining, and as a result, many have developed cult followings. Our selection, which includes original films, parodies, and funny mashups of comedy and other well-liked genres, is perfect for anyone who just wants to laugh without worrying too much about the quality of the production.
Bachelor Party Vegas (2006)
The beginning of Bachelor Party Vegas is similar to that of every other film about buddies travelling to Las Vegas to assist a friend in saying their final goodbyes to singledom. But things take an unexpected turn around halfway through when the main players learn that their trip planner is a bank robber who plans to pull off a massive heist at a casino.
The buildup takes a while, but once the chases begin, it all seems worthwhile. The guys have a variety of misfortunes in Vegas that are sure to leave spectators in awe, from being mugged by an Elvis impersonator to being pursued by an adult film star’s bodyguard. There are many parallels with the Hangover films, but since this Eric Bernt film came out before, it wouldn’t be the offender if there was ever a dispute about it.
Bad Girls from Valley High (2005)
In Bad Girls from Valley High, the “Benjamin Button Effect” is reversed since the primary characters age forward rather than backward. All of this is a kind of retribution for the three wealthy girls, known as “The Huns” in their high school, who had previously been so cruel to everyone else that they had even been responsible for one of their classmates’ deaths.
The movie intrigues by examining typical teenage difficulties like bullying, envy, and sexuality without depending on over-the-top performances. Even though many of the jokes are based on “mean girl” stereotypes, they nevertheless work. The ageing humour is obviously gone too far because the three even passes away and ends up in hell. They are compelled to endure suffering there alongside some of the people they could not tolerate when they were still living.
Class Of Nuke ‘Em High (1986)
The mayhem in Class of Nuke ‘Em High, which centres on a high school near to a nuclear power plant, is caused by free enterprise and greed. The facility’s owner conceals a leak, which causes the pupils to experience the repercussions. Viewers are spared the more horrifying and actual effects of radiation because it’s a comedy film. There are more absurd results as a result.
In one unforgettable scene, the students use radioactive marijuana, but instead of morphing into strange animals, they instead become sex-obsessed. There are four sequels to the film, and each of them builds up the other in the last few minutes, so anyone who is satisfied with the first one will find something to appreciate.
Daphne & Velma (2018)
Over the years, the members of Mystery Inc. have experienced so many adventures that some of the Scooby-Doo series’ films are often forgotten. One of these is Daphne & Velma, in which filmmaker Suzi Yoonessi develops the well-known characters of Daphne and Velma by first outlining their friendship and then sending them on a quest to solve the mystery surrounding the disappearance of intelligent kids from their school.
The direct-to-video film mostly succeeds by showing the advantages of online friendships and by brilliantly depicting women as brilliant technologists. It’s also novel to depart from the traditional model in which the complete Mystery Incorporated crew collaborates. Most notably, there are lots of funny parts in Daphne & Velma, many of them come from the conversation. When asked a question, every zombified pupil responds with the same generic “I’m good!” Velma, on the other hand, is always coming up with creative allegories while she works on her robots.
Dennis the Menace Strikes Again (1998)
It was only right that a Dennis the Menace sequel would be developed because mischievous children ruled the 1990s television landscape. It made sense for the sequel to go direct-to-video since the first one hadn’t been as commercially successful because it had to compete with the much more well-known Home Alone 2. Surprisingly, it has more clever plans and jokes than the other movie.
The cinematography is appropriately colourful, and the baddies are all portrayed for laughs. Additionally, Don Rickles portrays Dennis’ sour neighbour much better than Walter Matthau. Additionally, great care is taken to ensure that the scenes and people look just like those in the comics. For instance, there is a scene in which Betty White bakes a birthday cake that is exactly like the illustration’s page where Mrs. Wilson bakes the same cake.
Ernest in the Army (1998)
Ernest in Ernest In The Army on the battlefield in the Middle East.Jim Varney and director John Cherry of Buena Vista Pictures worked together on a whopping 10 films in the Ernest series, and the final film is when they both achieve the pinnacle of their prowess. In it, Ernest enlists in the army after being told by a buddy that all he will have to do is operate big army vehicles. However, he quickly finds himself engaged in a civil war in the fictional Middle Eastern country of Karifistan.
The perpetually silly Ernest salutes when it is unnecessary to do so and speaks when it is not requested. Thus, he appears to be the least competent soldier ever, but he is still a likeable figure. And with phrases like “I’m poultry in motion” and “The desert sun certainly has an adverse effect on chocolate milk,” it’s difficult not to smile the entire time you watch. Additionally, there is a tonne of commentary on patriotism, and it is through this lens that military codes are often parodied.
House Party: Tonight’s the Night (2013)
The plot of each film in the House Party series is the same, but the last one ups the ante by ramping up the vice and featuring a slew of memorable supporting players. Everything that could possibly go wrong at a party for teenagers does go wrong, and even though some of the plot points are ridiculous, the film stays away from using too many realistic jokes.
All things considered, House Party: Tonight’s the Night falls short of the excellence of the original film, which is unsurprising given that Martin Lawrence delivered a performance that would be challenging for anybody else to match. However, the final chapter succeeds by avoiding the urge to blatantly pay homage to the original. The performers Tequan Richmond and Zac Godspeed deserve a lot of praise for capturing some of the craziest facial expressions ever captured on film.
The 41-Year-Old Virgin Who Knocked up Sarah Marshall and Felt Superbad About It (2010)
Director Craig Moss takes the risky step of parodying a number of well-known Judd Apatow films as well as other comedic classics like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Superbad in The 41-Year-Old Virgin Who Knocked up Sarah Marshall and Felt Superbad About It. The direct-to-video spoof succeeds when it comes to slapstick humour and character mannerisms, despite the fact that the use of a long title may appear to be a desperate attempt to attract viewers of the original films.
The entire 82-minute running length is filled with absurdity, and viewers witness Andy, the main character, embarking on a variety of absurd quests to lose his virginity. There isn’t much the struggling stand-up comic can’t do, from stopping a terrorist strike by Kim Jon II to fighting vampires. There are also clever pop cultural allusions to Grand Theft Auto and Star Wars, creating a ridiculous yet enjoyable spoof.
Traxx (1988)
Traxx parodies well-known 1980s action flicks by emphasising clichés like the “one-man army” and robotic speech. The main character in the story is Traxx, a former Texas State Trooper who left the force after receiving numerous warnings for killing criminals. The fun starts when he launches “Snaxx by Traxx” and settles into a life of making gourmet cookies after working as a mercenary for a few years all over the world.
Traxx puts up a lot of unique ludicrous sequences while poking fun of the overabundance of action films. The third is particularly memorable because the main character, Aldo Palucci, doesn’t even have to commit the murder of the antagonist. When the crime boss inadvertently burns himself up when lighting a cigar while making fun of Traxx’s cookies, he is exposed to some type of karma.
Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie (2004)
Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie was only made available on DVD for a good cause. The movie isn’t fully unique. It comprises of many versions of scenes from Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, many of which viewers thought were too amusing to be excluded. The characters are thus portrayed making a variety of decisions that significantly alter their futures. In addition, a brand-new storyline that wasn’t in the original movie is present.
Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie basically serves as an expanded version of blooper reels, which isn’t surprising given that it boasts one of the best comedy movie ensembles. Director Adam McKay deserves praise for putting them all together cohesively. It’s a great approach to distribute the deleted sequences. The movie is so well done that it even includes its own sequences that were cut.
