2002 Movies : Comedy

With Molly Shannon • Tim Allen • Liliana Mumy • Elizabeth Mitchell • David Krumholtz • Spencer Breslin • Aisha Tyler • Judge Reinhold • Wendy Crewson • Michael Lembeck

Scott Calvin has been Santa Claus for the past eight years, and his loyal elves consider him the best Santa ever. But Santa's world is turned upside down when he's dealt a double whammy of bad news: not only has his son, Charlie, landed on this year's "naughty" list, but if Scott doesn't marry by Christmas Eve—just a month away!—he'll stop being Santa forever. (It's right in his contract—the "Mrs. Clause") Desperate, Scott turns to the elves' new invention—a machine that can replicate anything—to create Santa II (a toy version of himself) and he leaves his double in charge. Things quickly go south at the North Pole when Santa II institutes some strange redefinitions of what's naughty and nice; worse, when Scott finally falls for a potential Mrs. Claus, she threatens to drive a wedge between him and Charlie. In a climactic battle pitting Santa, Charlie, the new Mrs. Claus, and the elves against Santa II and his army of tin soldiers, the future of Scott's family, the North Pole, and Christmas itself, hangs in the balance.

With Eddie Murphy • Owen Wilson • Malcolm McDowell • Famke Janssen • Gary Cole • Betty Thomas

When the Switchblade, the most sophisticated prototype stealth fighter created yet, is stolen from the U.S. government, one of the United States' top spies, Alex Scott (Owen Wilson), is called to action. What he doesn't expect is to get teamed up with a cocky civilian, World Class Boxing Champion Kelly Robinson (Eddie Murphy), on a dangerous top secret espionage mission. Their assignment: using equal parts skill and humor, catch Arnold Gundars, one of the world's most successful illegal arms dealers, and foil his treacherous plans for the plane.

With Rob Schneider • Kevin Nealon • James Barbou • Jon Lovitz • Tyra Banks • Seth Kearsley

Davey Stone, a 33-year old party animal, finds himself in trouble with the law after his wild ways go too far. In keeping with the holiday spirit, the judge gives Davey one last chance at redemption — spend the holiday performing community service as the assistant referee for the youth basketball league or go to jail. Davey thinks he's gotten off easy until he meets Whitey Duvall, the eccentric, elf-like head referee. The mismatch between Whitey's good heart and never-ending optimism and Davey's constant troublemaking antics soon have them both wondering if going to jail wouldn't have been easier! In this new, full-length animated feature about basketball, old girlfriends, holiday spirits, and the mall, Adam Sandler voices the three lead characters of Whitey, Davey, and Whitey's fraternal twin sister Eleanore!

With Richard Gere • Queen Latifah • John C. Reilly • Renée Zellweger • Catherine Zeta-Jones • Christine Baranski • Dominic West • Mya • Rob Marshall

It's the long-awaited film version of the Broadway hit. Set in the roaring 20's, this is the story of Chicago chorus girl Roxie Hart (Renée Zellweger), who shoots her unfaithful lover (Dominic West). Landing in jail, she meets Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones), another chorus girl and murderess, currently enjoying media attention and legal manipulation, care of her attorney, Billy Flynn (Richard Gere), king of the old "Razzle Dazzle." Soon enough, however, Flynn takes Roxie's case as well, and Velma finds herself old news as Roxie is now the most famous murderess in town, on her way to getting out of jail and becoming a star. The two go through a series of attempts at getting what they both want: freedom and fame.

With Robert De Niro • Brian Rogalski • Harold Ramis • Billy Crystal • Lisa Kudrow • Joe Viterelli

Sequel to the 1999 hit, "Analyze, This," follows Ben Sobel's struggle to help Paul Vitti, his mobster client. Paul, who's been spending time in prison, is released to the custody of his psychiatrist. Paul tries to adjust to a straight life, but it's Ben who has issues this time: he's depressed after the recent death of his father.

With Nicolas Cage • Meryl Streep • John Cusack • Brian Cox • Ron Livingston • Tilda Swinton • Spike Jonze • Chris Cooper • Cara Seymour

It's two odd stories in one. The plot follows the attempt of screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Nicolas Cage) to adapt Susan Orlean's nonfiction novel "The Orchid Thief" for the big screen. As Kaufman tries to work with the book's true story — the tale of John Laroche (Chris Cooper), a Florida plant dealer who works with Seminole Indians to create clones of rare orchids, which he sells to collectors for huge profits — he nearly goes mad. Enter his fictional twin (also Cage), a more successful version of Charlie. Charlie finally manages to finish the script, finding that in the process, he's incorporated himself and his writer's block into the story.

With Adam Sandler • Rachel McAdams • Rob Schneider • Anna Faris • Tom Brady • Eric Christian Olsen • Matthew Lawrence

Jessica Spencer (Anna Faris) is convinced she has the perfect life. She's the hottest, most popular girl in high school, captain of the cheerleading squad and dating the dreamy quarterback. But thse gets a big does of reality when she wakes up in the body of a 30-year-old man (Rob Schneider)! She quickly discovers that trading on your looks isn't so easy when you're a girl who constantly needs a shave. And until she can figure out how to change herself back, Jessica must find a way to win the Cheer Competition, go to the prom, and win her boyfriend back - all as a guy. From some of the guys who brought you "Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo" and "The Animal" comes a wild, heartfelt comedy everyone can enjoy no matter what you sex.

With Dermot Mulroney • Hope Davis • Jack Nicholson • Kathy Bates • Jim Taylor • Howard Hesseman • June Squibb • Harry Gittes • Michael Besman

Jack Nicholson stars as Warren Schmidt, a man who is set adrift following retirement and the sudden death of his wife. Uncertain about his future as well as his past, Warren packs up his 30-foot Winnebago to set out on a journey across the Nebraska plains to attend his daughter's (Hope Davis) wedding to a waterbed salesman (Dermot Mulroney). But every step he takes seems wrong, and Warren seems destined to end his life as he lived it: a failure. But along the way, Warren recounts his journey and shares his observations with an unexpected friend - a poor Tanzanian boy he is sponsoring for 73 cents a day. In his long letters to the boy, Warren begins to see himself and the life he has lived with new eyes.

With Jennifer Lopez • Ralph Fiennes • Natasha Richardson • Bob Hoskins • Di Quon • Wayne Wang

A street savvy, independent single mother who lives in the Bronx with her son, and works as a maid in a first class Manhattan hotel dreams of a better life but has learned to depend upon her own wits to get her there. When a handsome, debonair heir to an American political dynasty is in New York and staying in the hotel where Marisa works, the two meet by a twist of fate and mistaken identity. She soon finds herself gaining insight into the life of a man she might otherwise have judged from a distance. When her true identity is revealed, however, the truth sets in as to the disparity in their lives.

With Hugh Grant • Alicia Witt • Robert Klein • Mark Feuerstein • Marc Lawrence

In the romantic comedy "Two Weeks Notice", Sandra Bullock plays a brilliant but detail-obsessed attorney opposite Hugh Grant as her charming, irresponsible and fabulously wealthy boss in a film that explores whether or not it's ever too late to say "I Love You."

With Brenda Blethyn • Rupert Everett • Danielle Harris • Alfre Woodard • Marisa Tomei • Cathy Malkasian • Tom Kane • Tim Curry • Lynn Redgrave • Lacey Chabert • Jodi Carlisle • Flea • Jeff McGrath

This Nickelodeon movie finds this animated family going on wild adventures around the world. Now 12-year-old Eliza is in Africa where she meets a mysterious shaman who grants her the power to talk to animals. But there's a catch - if she reveals her gift, she will lose it forever. One day, Eliza discovers that poachers plan to kill an elephant herd with an electrified fence and she and Darwin, her pet chimp, must stop them.

With Carlo Giuffre • Roberto Benigni • Nicoletta Braschi • Carlo Guiffre • Bruno Arena

Written by, directed by, and starring Roberto Benigni, this is the classic story of a wooden puppet come to life and his magnificent odyssey to become a 'real boy'. Despite guidance from the beautiful Blue Fairy (Nicoletta Braschi) and the love of his father, Gepetto (Carlo Guiffre), Pinocchio's curious spirit leads him into one wild adventure after another - distracting him from his goal, and distancing him from his loved ones. Using Carlo Collodi's original masterwork as its source, the film is filled with mysterious fairies, colorful circuses, mystical forests, talking animals, fantastical toys and magnificent playlands.