10 Must-See Gross-Out Comedy Films

      Casey Chong presents a selection of essential gross-out comedies…

      Comedies come in various styles and tones, with one subgenre being gross-out comedies. These films aim to shock and offend, often using raunchy, disgusting, or immature humor. Physical gags are a staple of gross-out humor, featuring everything from projectile vomit to bodily fluids. In the early '70s, John Waters shattered societal taboos with Pink Flamingos, and in more recent times, the Farrelly Brothers, Peter and Bobby, have created some of the most successful gross-out comedies to date. Picking a top ten list from the multitude of great options is no easy task, but here it is...

      **Me, Myself & Irene (2000)**

      Why have just one Jim Carrey when you can have two? The rubber-faced comedian collaborated again with the Farrelly Brothers in Me, Myself & Irene, where Carrey plays a character with split personality disorder. One side is Charlie, a meek Rhode Island state trooper who is often taken advantage of, even by his cheating wife (Traylor Howard). The other side, Hank, is aggressive and violent. The interplay of these opposing personalities allows Carrey to fully embrace the wild humor typical of the Farrelly Brothers. A standout scene features Hank exacting revenge on a neighbor’s dog by returning the favor on his lawn. While Me, Myself & Irene didn't achieve the same success as Dumb and Dumber, it remains a noteworthy comedy from the Farrelly brothers.

      **Road Trip (2000)**

      Before Todd Phillips took a sharp turn with Joker, he started his career in comedy with Road Trip. His directorial debut follows Josh (Breckin Meyer) on a race against time to travel 1,800 miles to retrieve a sex tape mistakenly sent to his long-distance girlfriend (Rachel Blanchard). He is joined on this road trip by E.L. (Seann William Scott), Rubin (Paulo Costanzo), and Kyle (DJ Qualls). Much of the comedy arises from their misadventures, including a reckless stunt involving a broken bridge. One particularly memorable gross-out moment happens in a diner when Kyle, dissatisfied with his breakfast order, gets his revenge in a rather unhygienic way.

      **Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life (1983)**

      This film marked the last collaboration of the legendary Monty Python troupe all together and is considered one of their best works. The Meaning of Life features eight major segments filled with absurd sketches and musical numbers. Directed by Terry Jones, it doesn’t shy away from the boundaries of gross-out humor. A notable scene features an extremely overweight customer, Mr. Creosote, who vomits before gorging on food at a fine dining restaurant. The maître d’ (John Cleese) convinces him to try a “wafer-thin mint,” leading to a comically grotesque outcome.

      **National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978)**

      National Lampoon once defined comedy before fading from the spotlight, but its first film, Animal House, still holds cultural significance. As a pioneer of gross-out comedy, John Landis’s film showcases the outrageous antics of the Delta Tau Chi fraternity house, filled with misfits who know how to have a wild time. John Belushi shines as the crude and chaotic John “Bluto” Blutarsky. Although the gross-out gags might seem mild by today's standards, Belushi's energy, particularly during a cafeteria food fight where he humorously imitates a "human zit," showcases his improvisational talent.

      **South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)**

      The 1990s introduced us to the bold and satirical animated series South Park, created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Debuting in 1997 and running for an impressive 28 seasons, it spawned the successful film South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut. The narrative follows Stan, Kyle, Ike, Eric, and Kenny as they attempt to sneak into an R-rated film, resulting in bizarre consequences. With memorable musical numbers and outrageous humor, the film cleverly critiques censorship and human nature.

      **Bridesmaids (2011)**

      A quintessential chick flick infused with gross-out humor, Paul Feig’s Bridesmaids is one of his standout works, featuring a strong female cast led by Kristen Wiig. Wiig portrays Annie Walker, a single woman feeling threatened by her best friend Lillian’s (Maya Rudolph) upcoming wedding and her new bridesmaid Helen (Rose Byrne). Despite its lengthy runtime of 125 minutes, the film offers plenty of laughs, particularly a memorable scene involving food poisoning that leads to a chaotic and hilarious moment among the bridesmaids.

      **Waiting… (2005)**

      Rob McKittrick’s debut film satirizes the workplace culture of the foodservice industry, focusing on waitstaff and kitchen crew at a restaurant called Shen