With 2011 in its death throes, what better time to look ahead to 2012. All this week, Moviefone will preview the seemingly endless supply of big-time films hitting theaters during the next 12 months -- from 'The Devil Inside' to 'Django Unchained' and everything in between. First up: the 12 comedies to watch next year.
Gallery | 2012 Movie Preview: Comedies
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'Tim & Eric's Billion Dollar Movie'
Release date: March 2, 2012
If you haven't watched the Adult Swim show 'Tim & Eric,' you, in all likelihood, have no interest in seeing this movie (nor will you understand it). This film version of the popular program sees Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim squandering a billion dollars in movie financing, then rehabilitating a "bankrupt mall full of vagrants, bizarre stories and a man-eating wolf." If you're still confused, just watch the trailer, which is sure to clear absolutely nothing up for you.
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'Casa De Mi Padre'
Release date: March 16, 2012
Will Ferrell stars in this Spanish feature-length comedy directed by former SNL writer Matt Piedmont. Ferrell plays Armando Alvarez, a Mexican farmer who ends up going to war against the country's most feared drug lord. Hopefully, this is a return to form for Ferrell -- it has been a while since he's had a comedy worth fighting for. At the very least, watching him speak Spanish for an entire film should be entertaining.
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'21 Jump Street'
Release date: March 16, 2012
No one was clamoring for this, especially after the recent swarm of bad '80s remakes. But then came the red-band trailer for '21 Jump Street,' which actually was hysterical. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum play undercover cops dressed as high school students; Ice Cube is their supervisor. Of course, you should never judge a movie by its trailer, so who knows how the final product will turn out. If anything does go wrong, hopefully that Johnny Depp cameo (he starred in the original series) will swoop in to save the day.
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'Goon'
Release date: March 30, 2012
Sean William Scott and Liev Schreiber star as a couple of hockey goons playing in the minor leagues. There's drinking, there's fighting, there's cursing -- think of it as 'Slapshot' for the iPod generation.
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'American Reunion'
Release date: April 6, 2012
Everyone's favorite pie-humping franchise is back, this time for an awkward high school reunion. But unlike 'American Pie Presents: Band Camp' (or 'The Naked Mile' or 'Beta House' or any of the other ridiculous sequels this series has spawned), 'Reunion' sees the return of the entire cast -- even Tara Reid, because, hey, why not? This time around, Jim (Jason Biggs) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) have a kid. Get ready for the awkward walk-in-on-dad-while-he's-pleasur... oh, wait -- that really is happening? We were just joking.
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'Movie 43'
Release date: April 13, 2012
No one really knows what 'Movie 43' is about. In fact, the synopsis on the IMDb page states that it's a "feature film comprised of short comedy segments." Each segment has its own director (among them, Steve Carr, Steven Brill, Bob Odenkirk, Brett Ratner, and, interestingly enough, Elizabeth Banks). So, why include this on the list? Because of the ridiculous cast. 'Movie 43' stars Kate Winslet, Uma Thurman, Hugh Jackman, Gerard Butler, Emma Stone, Chloe Moretz, Kate Bosworth, Elizabeth Banks, Kristen Bell, Anna Farris, Josh Duhamel, Naomi Watts, Jason Sudeikis, Justin Long, Liev Schreiber, Sean William Scott, Patrick Warburton, Johnny Knoxville, and a whole lot more. Despite the bad rap ensemble comedies have gotten in recent years (ahem, 'New Year's Eve'), this may be one that's actually worth watching.
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'The Five-Year Engagement'
Release date: April 27, 2012
Jason Segel and 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' director Nicholas Stoller team up again for this comedy about a five-year engagement (duh). It stars Segel and Emily Blunt as a couple whose impending marriage gets delayed over and over and over again. No, not the most genius idea in the world, but with Stoller at the helm, it's probably good for at least a few laughs.
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'The Dictator'
Release date: May 11, 2012
Sacha Baron Cohen stars as the titular dictator, a North African ruler who comes to America, beds Megan Fox (as herself in a wry cameo) and makes AIDS jokes. Typical outrageous fare from Cohen, who is joined by Fox, Anna Faris, John C. Reilly and Academy Award-winner Ben Kingsley. Expect offensiveness.
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'Ted'
Release date: July 13, 2012
The first feature film from 'Family Guy' creator Seth MacFarlane is a live action flick that follows John (Mark Wahlberg) and his talking teddy bear, aptly named Ted (MacFarlane). Joining Wahlberg are 'Family Guy' regulars Mila Kunis, Alex Borstein and Patrick Warburton, along with actors Giovanni Ribisi and Joel McHale. For any 'Family Guy' or 'American Dad' or 'Cleveland Show' fan (if there are any of the latter group), 'Ted' is a must see.
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'Neighborhood Watch'
Release date: July 27, 2012
The second feature film from Lonely Island contributor Akiva Schaffer (the first being the immortal 'Hot Rod') stars Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill as a group of friends who start a neighborhood watch group in their suburb and stumble onto a plot to destroy the world.
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'Dog Fight'
Release date: August 10, 2012
The second Will Ferrell movie on this list has him returning to his English-speaking roots. In 'Dog Fight,' he and Zach Galifianakis play two rival politicians running for Congress. Jason Sudeikis also stars, as well as potentially Dan Aykroyd. Hopefully, a political satire will bring out some of Ferrell's SNL glory days, when he played 'Dubya.
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'This Is Forty'
Release date: December 21, 2012
Hooray for spinoffs! Especially ones that involve Judd Apatow. In 'This Is Forty,' Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann (Aptaow's wife in real life) reprise their roles as Pete and Debby from the 2007 comedy 'Knocked Up.' New characters include Albert Brooks (as Rudd's onscreen dad), along with John Lithgow, Megan Fox and, in her first post-'Bridesmaids' role, Melssia McCarthy. No word if Seth Rogen and/or Katherine Heigl cameo (judging from her past comments about 'Knocked Up,' don't expect Katie), but Jason Segel will appear as his 'Knocked Up' character.
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Dishonorable Mention: 'The Three Stooges'
Release date: April 13, 2012
Are you a fan of the original 'Three Stooges'? Are you interested in watching your childhood memories get butchered? Then check out this new film adaptation where Larry, Curly and Moe get transported to the 21st century and are forced to deal with iPods, Sofia Vergara and Snooki. But, hey, nostalgia!
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