Comedy Movies 2004 List

With Jim Carrey • Jude Law • Luis Guzman • Meryl Streep • Timothy Spall • Emily Browning • Jennifer Coolidge • Cedric the Entertainer • Walter F. Parkes • Liam Aiken • Brad Silberling • Laurie MacDonald • Robert Gordon

Based on the bestselling book series by Daniel Handler, the "Snicket" saga revolves around a pint-sized trio of orphans named Sunny, Klaus and Violet who find themselves fobbed off on a series of odd people, including Lemony Snicket, who narrates each of what has grown to a series of eight books since Handler debuted the first title in 1999. The recurring bad guy is a distant family relative named Count Olaf, who initially takes in the kids but clearly is trying to separate them from a family inheritance.

With Sarah Steele • James L. Brooks • Paz Vega • Tea Leoni • Allen Covert • Cloris Leachman • Matt Battaglia • Richard Sakai • Julie Ansell

In "Spanglish", the beautifully observed comedy/drama from acclaimed multiple Oscar-winning writer/director/producer James L. Brooks ("As Good As It Gets", "Terms of Endearment"), Flor (Paz Vega), a beautiful, native Mexican woman becomes the housekeeper for the affluent, yet troubled, Clasky family (headed by Adam Sandler and Téa Leoni). The result is a wittily perceptive collision of cultures and values, and a refreshingly honest look at such life-altering commitments as marriage, parenting and devotion to family.