Laughter is the best medicine, they say. So, let’s begin our Comedy list with this poignant, funny story based on a real-life relationship between a disabled young man, Case Levenson, and his carer Jonathan Evison, adapted from his novel The Revised Fundamentals. Paul Rudd is wonderful as writer Ben, who retires after a personal tragedy and becomes a disabled teen’s caregiver. When the two embark on an impromptu road trip, their ability to cope is tested as they start to understand the importance of hope and friendship. Craig Roberts is excellent in the role of the disabled boy Trevor.

The Emmys are upon us, and this film is the surprising recipient of an Outstanding TV Movie nomination. Ever since first seeing Vince Vaughn in 1996’s Swingers, I’ll watch that man in anything he does. I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely comedy, based on a true story, where Vince stars as Joe, a boy grieving for his mother, who decides to honour her by cooking her Italian family recipes. This eventually leads to his risking everything by opening an Italian restaurant with actual grandmothers as the chefs. With Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro and Susan Sarandon as the chefs, the kitchen is filled with food and hilarity. The real-life Enoteca Maria restaurant in Staten Island, New York has gone on my must do list for my next visit. This film is an uplifting experience.

Sometimes you’ll get a little violence with your comedy, as in this case. I know it’s Guy Ritchie, doing his Lock Stock thing with boys behaving very badly, but it always looks like such fun, and they’re all my favourite boys. Plus, there are lots of fast cars and great music to accompany the violence that is eventually afflicted on everyone. Matthew McConaughey is a talented American graduate of Oxford, who uses his unique skills, and audacity, to create a marijuana empire using the estates of impoverished British aristocrats. However, when he tries to sell his empire to a fellow American billionaire, a chain of events unfolds, involving blackmail, deception, mayhem and murder between street thugs, Russian oligarchs, Triad gangsters and gutter journalists. I mean, it’s all happening in this with one. Love seeing Hugh Grant distancing himself from his Four Weddings blah, blah, blah, Michelle Dockery miles away from Downton Abbey, and it’s got Charlie Hunnam. I loved this one.

I was a little dubious about yet another film about wacky in-laws who are disproving of their daughter’s marriage, but with Pierce Brosnan starring as the bride’s father, it sounded promising. It is a little under-whelming, but I must say the car chases lived up to expectations. Richard Kind and Julie Hagerty as the groom’s parents were stand-outs for me. The story follows a straight-laced bank manager about to marry the love of his life. When his bank is held up by infamous Ghost Bandits during his wedding week, he believes his future in-laws who just arrived in town, are the infamous Out-Laws. It’s a bit of fun and action, with a great soundtrack, which includes Australia’s Wolfmother.

It’s taken me some time to get used to the quirky Robert De Niro, and often it just doesn’t fit. But this comedy nearly gets there. De Niro stars as Ben, a retired 70-year-old widower, who is bored with retirement. He applies to a be a senior intern at an online fashion retailer and gets the position. Anne Hathaway is Jules Ostin, the founder of the company, a tireless, driven, demanding, dynamic workaholic. Ben is made her intern, but this is a nominal role. But Ben proves to be quite useful and, more than that, a source of support and wisdom. An entertaining film if you don’t want to overtax the brain cells.

It’s worth a look at this one just to see a dishevelled Anglina belt out (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction on the picket line. Jolie stars as reporter Lanie Kerrigan who interviews psychic homeless man Prophet Jack about a football game’s score. Instead, he tells her that her life has no meaning and will end in just a few days. This sparks her to action to change the pattern of her life. Ed Burns is one of the nonchalant romantic interests, a role he has mastered over the years. Angelina looks lovely with her Marilyn Monroe hair. It’s not amazing, but it’s fairly entertaining.

There’s a bit of emotional drama mixed in with your comedy here, but Kevin Kline stars as a therapist vet, which will be explained in due course as the story progresses, although I keep seeing Otto expressions on his face. And Chris O’Dowd is a family favourite. Melissa McCarthy stars as Lilly who suffers a tragic loss, followed by husband Jack taking himself off to rehab. Lilly takes all this out on a combative starling that takes nest beside her home. The feisty bird taunts and attacks the grief-stricken Lilly. On her journey to expel the Starling, she rediscovers her will to live and capacity for love. I don’t think the latter occurs in Australia where we’re constantly bombarded by pesky magpies and any love of nature evaporates. This film rated 1 on Tomatoes, but I don’t think it’s that bad.

Jennifer Aniston perfectly fits the role of uptight, vivacious former pageant queen, Rosie. Australian Danielle Macdonald stars as Willowdean, or Dumplin’ as her mother calls her. She is the plus-size teenage daughter of Rosie, who decides to sign up for her mum’s Miss Teen Bluebonnet pageant as a protest and to honour her late Aunt, who loved Dolly Parton. Her songs are featured throughout the film. The situation escalates when other contestants follow in her footsteps. The girls receive assistance from a surprising source, revolutionising the pageant and their small Texas town. A film for Dolly fans, that’s for sure.

It’s always a bonus to have a little romance with your comedy. I must say I was surprised with this one. The story follows 20-year-old Hadley Sullivan’s as she misses her flight and is stuck at JFK airport and late to her father’s second wedding, which is taking place in London. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport’s cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he’s British, and he’s sitting in her row. A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. There’s a lot of running around London as these two try to reconnect, all backed by a great soundtrack. It’s worth a few hours on the couch.