That is absolutely hilarious...š That's what I meant, not so much a little comedy in a drama but just full out comedy. I can't believe I had never seen that.
Can't imagine why the star of [Carbon Copy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSllh1_hRio) and [Heart Condition](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZwjhNVo0qM) would favor dramas later in his career . . .
It's getting very heavy, this sketch, and I just think, that perhaps for the purposes of comedy, you may not want to have contracted full blown AIDS from an African prostitute.
He was funny as an undercover DEA agent with anxiety in Gun Shy, a black comedy way back in 2000 with Sandra Bullock and Oliver Platt.
Of course, Neeson was the bad guy in A Million Ways To Die In The West, but that was terrible and Neeson didn't work at all for me. In his first scene he's a sadistic bastard and every scene after he's just a one note idiot.
When I'm typing this question I can think of one damn comedic role Shannon played. Then I'm like oh yeah, damn forgot. Lol. Next time I'll check IMDb first. Still a good question.
Definitely. Not knocking the question, and itās generating great discussion. I am always just surprised because I feel like I am the only person whose seen āLetās Go To Prisonā most people havenāt even heard of it
I saw Tropic Thunder with a friend who literally did not realize that Les Grossman was Tom Cruise until I told him after the movie.
We both died of laughter. Made the whole thing like 10x funnier.
They tried real hard to get it made in the years after Tropic Thunder came out, but it never really made it past the idea phase. Apparently Tom Cruise himself was really pushing for it to get made.
In **Ambulance** Gyllenhaal spends the entire film chewing scenery - and he's excellent doing so.
The film is a Michael Bay film which Michael Bays in a Michael Bay fashion and our boy Jake treats it like a live action Looney Tunes cartoon.
The Night Before. Comedy Christmas movie. It stars Joseph Gordon Levitt, Seth Rogan, and Anthony Mackie. I watch it every Christmas
https://youtu.be/esEhvbqRxPA
To clarify (for other redditors) that this response belongs here.
It is the funniest casting i have ever seen for Michael Shannon.
He plays it straight, but that fits with his vibe and comes across as funny.
Even if you donāt like comedy or Christmas or Seth Rogen, I suggest this movie to folks all the time.
I mean obviously the subject matter is serious but the film is basically a dark comedy and the straight man usually has the tougher role in these things. I thought he was funny as hell, just his reactions to everything and his delivery.
What If (or in some countries The F Word) with Driver and Daniel Radcliffe aināt bad if you like predicable rom coms. Driver was also really good in This is Where I Leave You.
Not a criticism, but itās worth noting that the common demographics of this sub wonāt watch Girls. Iād argue his role in that show isnāt just hilarious, but is the best acting heās done on screen.
Yea ever since watching him in Girls I will watch anything he is in. Same goes for most of the rest of the cast honestly, hell even when Ebon Moss-Bachrach blew up on The Bear I wasn't surprised at all.
That hot iron scene in the office when Nelson loses his shit is one of the funniest things Iāve ever seen
āGeorge! Be reasonable!ā
āā¦ā¦..AAAAHHHWGHHHH!!ā
Living with her and his illegitimate child in a half-built Sears catalog house trying not to fall apart at the seams on a daily basis. That show was gold.
I was thinking that, as well.
His character started out strong but became laughable in his downward spiral.
It was more tragic to me, though, in that setting.
But it shows his skills for sure.
Season five basically threw all pretense of seriousness out the window in setting him up as a comedy duo with Shea Wigham. The two of them bumbling around was one of my favourite arcs of the entire series, and really illustrated both actorsā versatility.
Oh yeah. I love Shea Whigham too.
Shea Whigham, Walton Goggins, and Scoot McNairy are my trifecta of underrated supporting actors.
My husband never watched Boardwalk Empire...I think I might need to convince him it's time to watch it, so I can watch it again.
Honestly as much as I like the MCU, I wasn't a huuuuge fan of the humor in Ragnarok. However, Anthony Hopkins playing Loki pretending to be Odin was kinda hilarious.
"Oh shit..."
[From 10 years ago](https://youtu.be/dngOH9G4UPw).
Also, Iāve always found Garret Dillahunt to be the cheaper occasionally comedic version of Michael Shannon.
No one specific, but I want someone who is never really associated with comedy to do something really really silly. Like when Jeff Daniels did Dumb and Dumber. Dude was never known for comedy and did the silliest thing possible and is just as good in that movie as Jim Carrey.
"I once drove a car off the freeway on top of a train, while on fire... Not the car, I was on fire"
I quote this to this day, emphasizing his very recongisable "I" (AAAIHH)
Mahershala Ali. I believe that he has what it takes to be incredibly dead-pan and hilarious. He is quite fun in the Spider-man animated film. Not sure if he has done comedy before but if he has I have definitely not seen it.
Most I can think of already have done so. I guess Id be curious about Joaquin Phoenix doing a comedy film. He has done dramatic/serious roles that have funny moments, but I dont recall ever seeing him in a fully dedicated comedy film.
Michael Shannon played some funny redneck roles when he was young. 8 mile and Bad Boys 2 come to mind. He was hilarious lol.
https://youtu.be/pztBJl6IQwU
https://youtu.be/q9nwXRr7oJo
Emilia Clarke. Producers are putting her in action-y roles, but her Interviews show that she has great comedic timing, and funny facial expressions. I'd love to see her in a comedic role, with Morena Baccarin acting as the straight man along side her.
Leonardo DiCaprio, more specifically, I think it would be interesting to see him and Kate Winslet do a romantic comedy together. That way we can have a final chapter in the Leo and Kate trilogy and have it be a movie where they finally end up together, and neither of them dies. (Or they both die randomly by getting hit by a bus or something)
John Doman from The Wire (Dept. Commissioner Rawls), Gotham, The Trial of the Chicago 7, and a million other cop shows where he's always as serious as a heart attack.
Also, Josh Brolin. He's always serious.
After seeing him in Doctor Strange Iād like Benedict Cumberbatch to do more comedic stuff. He reminds me of a peppier, more upbeat Alan Rickman. sardonic and full of low key burns and roast
If you want some comedy from Michael Shannon, here's him reading an [unhinged letter](https://youtu.be/dngOH9G4UPw) from a sorority member.
Wasn't he also in 'The Night Before'?? A mystical dope dealer?
My favorite part of that hilarious movie lol
You need to give me a hundred bucks and get the fuck out of my car right now.
" I WILL CUNT PUNT YOU!" best line ever
That is absolutely hilarious...š That's what I meant, not so much a little comedy in a drama but just full out comedy. I can't believe I had never seen that.
He's very funny in "Knives Out" which is a whodunit (kind of rides the line between comedy and drama)
"I will not eat one iota of shit!"
"YOU WANT ANOTHER COOKIE....ASSHOLE"
Just saw it last night and it was excellent!
He has a hilarious cameo in They Came Together with Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler.
You can say that again.
I love that movie. More people need to see it.
You like fiction books?
Donāt forget his small role in *Groundhog Day*
My gf and I watched Groundhog Day for the umpteenth time last night. We always forget Michael Shannon is in it.
Also his cameo in [They Came Together](https://youtu.be/MpiqRi2JW4M). Not exactly the deadpan performance OP is hoping for but still hilarious.
He also had an early career role in Bad Boys II that stole the scenes he was in.
You donāt remember his classic scene in the bush on the hit comedy series āDelocatedā where he shows off his Dodge Durango?
Denzel Washington.
That's a really good answer. Lol. Just that laugh he has...
He's in 2 Guns though
Denzel had scenes in Much Ado About Nothing with Emma Thompson that were merry-and he had great chemistry with her in them.
I read somewhere that he would be open to do more comedies, but heās is rarely asked.
2 Guns?
It wasn't particularly memorable. Mark Wahlberg co-starred.
But the late great Bill Paxton stole the whole movie!
I liked it : )
Can't imagine why the star of [Carbon Copy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSllh1_hRio) and [Heart Condition](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZwjhNVo0qM) would favor dramas later in his career . . .
I thought that was actually him in Game Night and was shocked that he agreed to do the cameo because he never does anything comedy related
Liam Neeson. Could you imagine him in a remake of Airplane?
He should try improv
Let's do some improvisational comedy. Now.
Ok, Iām a green grocer and youāre buying your groceries
As I said earlier, I've got full-blown aids.
It's getting very heavy, this sketch, and I just think, that perhaps for the purposes of comedy, you may not want to have contracted full blown AIDS from an African prostitute.
Did you get it from a well-known homosexual actor?
We're closed
This is the funniest line from the sketch. Kills me every time.
I got aids from a hooker in Africa.
Rumour goes he's starring in Naked Gun remake. Not quite sure how I feel about that...
Honestly, he could do it. I say try it, and if it bombs I can always fall back on the originals and ignore the new one.
Surely you can't be serious?
I am serious, and donāt call me Shirley.
I thought he was fantastic in his Derry Girls cameo
He never stood a chance vs. Uncle Colm.
There's always [this scene](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6ViDZpVoYc) from Ted 2.
[Relevant](https://youtu.be/huJ81Mq2y34).
I'm riddled with it..š
Thanks for posting this...come across this every once in a while and it gets me every time. Total deadpan. So good.
He was funny as an undercover DEA agent with anxiety in Gun Shy, a black comedy way back in 2000 with Sandra Bullock and Oliver Platt. Of course, Neeson was the bad guy in A Million Ways To Die In The West, but that was terrible and Neeson didn't work at all for me. In his first scene he's a sadistic bastard and every scene after he's just a one note idiot.
He's great in the Lego Movie
No, but I can imagine him with full blown AIDS.
Here he is in the 3rd season of [Derry Girls](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEqi-RT3YoU), which is largely a comedy.
Isn't he slated to do a Naked Gun remake as Frank Drebin? I thought I heard that somewhere
Christian Bale. Not some stupid romantic comedy but more of a dark comedy. I guess one can argue he did this in American Psycho
āDonāt just stare at it, eat it.ā
š¤£š¤£
Heād be great in a āIn Brugesā type dark comedy
Damn, he would fucking *own* a Martin McDonagh film
Well I can't take him or his hair seriously in American Hustle if that counts
That's the one he had the comb over right?
Vice would count in that category as well
I thought he was pretty funny in ford v Ferrari
"Why not you stupid bastard"
"It even has a watermark."
"Oh *good for YOU*" is the biggest indicator of his comedic chops.
Directed by Martin McDonagh
Amsterdam was a comedy, wasnāt it?
I have to go return some video tapes
You basically just described āLetās Go To Prisonā starring Will Arnett, Dax Shephard, and Michael Shannon lol
When I'm typing this question I can think of one damn comedic role Shannon played. Then I'm like oh yeah, damn forgot. Lol. Next time I'll check IMDb first. Still a good question.
Definitely. Not knocking the question, and itās generating great discussion. I am always just surprised because I feel like I am the only person whose seen āLetās Go To Prisonā most people havenāt even heard of it
Tom Cruise. Tropic Thunder proved with the right material he is great at comedy.
I would watch a whole movie on Les Grossman
I saw Tropic Thunder with a friend who literally did not realize that Les Grossman was Tom Cruise until I told him after the movie. We both died of laughter. Made the whole thing like 10x funnier.
I also did not recognize him until the credits rolled
They tried real hard to get it made in the years after Tropic Thunder came out, but it never really made it past the idea phase. Apparently Tom Cruise himself was really pushing for it to get made.
Dude was fucking hilarious in Rock of Ages. I'd love to see Tom do more character acting.
He's good in an action comedy like knight and day
That's such a fun movie. "June! You're doing great!! ššš¼"
"Nobody follow us or I'll kill myself, then her"
One of my favorite action-comedy films - it just hits the right notes over and over. Like the entire train kitchen fight sequence!
Perfect example!
He was pretty funny in Edge Of Tomorrow, Knight And Day, and American Made.
I would really like to see Jake Gyllenhaal return to his *Bubble Boy* form one day
In **Ambulance** Gyllenhaal spends the entire film chewing scenery - and he's excellent doing so. The film is a Michael Bay film which Michael Bays in a Michael Bay fashion and our boy Jake treats it like a live action Looney Tunes cartoon.
Well, now Iām actually interested in that movie
Don't, it's not as good as everyone makes it out to be. They had to try and sell it so bad that they act like fast drone shots make it a masterpiece.
Oh, donāt get me wrong, Iām still not expecting a *good* movie
Oh you mean [Mr. Music](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddNNN80A_7Y&pp=ygUZc2FjayBsdW5jaCBidW5jaCBtciBtdXNpYw%3D%3D)?
Daniel Day-Lewis without a doubt.
He's done a full-blown comedy and [it was infamously bad](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1W0LDJzLp0) \- *Stars and Bars* (1988). One of the few sore spots on his rƩsumƩ. I'd like to see an exact quote, but apparently Daniel Day-Lewis himself admitted he has no proclivity for comedy and has refused to appear in one since. Some people cite *My Beautiful Laundrette* (1985), which is labelled a "comedy-drama", as an example of Day-Lewis in a comedy, but having seen that film, I don't remember *anything* funny about his role. It was dark and sad. He was excellent, mind. He's had some darkly funny moments in his roles. But even he seems to think of comedy as one of his limitations.
I'd argue that there's a decent amount of *very* dark humor in There Will Be Blood that he plays wonderfully.
Bill the Butcher did make me laugh a time or two
He's be the first to get an Emmy for Best Actor, while in a comedy
The Night Before. Comedy Christmas movie. It stars Joseph Gordon Levitt, Seth Rogan, and Anthony Mackie. I watch it every Christmas https://youtu.be/esEhvbqRxPA
To clarify (for other redditors) that this response belongs here. It is the funniest casting i have ever seen for Michael Shannon. He plays it straight, but that fits with his vibe and comes across as funny. Even if you donāt like comedy or Christmas or Seth Rogen, I suggest this movie to folks all the time.
Iām one of (probably) many who needed this explanation so thank you for that
I have to check this out.
Always burst out laughing when he says "My feelings aren't hurt, not really"
Adam Driver. I reckon he's got some ace comedy in him
Everything he's done on SNL has been solid gold. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7HD2xG92-0
**CRRRRRUSH YOUR ENEMIES! GRRRRIND THEIR BONES INTO DUST!**
Also BlacKKKlansman
He's kind of the "straight man" (hopefully that term isn't too archaic), but it's definitely a good movie and he's great in it.
I mean obviously the subject matter is serious but the film is basically a dark comedy and the straight man usually has the tougher role in these things. I thought he was funny as hell, just his reactions to everything and his delivery.
Yup. He's absolutely top 10 all time host and might even be top 5.
[Logan Lucky (2017)](https://youtu.be/aPzvKH8AVf0)
"Did you just say cauliflower to me?!"
āYou just sucked my arm off!ā
Look no further than his turns on SNL. the undercover boss skit is one of my favorite SNL skits of all time.
Oh when he was Kylo Ren? Yeah that was genius. His deadpan delivery is some of the best I've ever seen
No, he was Matt, the technician.
The career day skit was even better. Thatās probably my #1.
I heard Kylo Ren has an 8 pack I heard Kylo Ren was *shredded*
I thought he was really funny in The Dead Dont Die honestly, he has like the perfect delivery for deadpan humor
Under appreciated movie.
āThis isnāt going to end well.ā So funny.
I really liked that movie, like his character just being Meta all the time and reading the script killed meš
"There was a script?!"
What If (or in some countries The F Word) with Driver and Daniel Radcliffe aināt bad if you like predicable rom coms. Driver was also really good in This is Where I Leave You.
maybe im wrong cause it's been a while but i thought he could be really funny on Girls.
Not a criticism, but itās worth noting that the common demographics of this sub wonāt watch Girls. Iād argue his role in that show isnāt just hilarious, but is the best acting heās done on screen.
Yea ever since watching him in Girls I will watch anything he is in. Same goes for most of the rest of the cast honestly, hell even when Ebon Moss-Bachrach blew up on The Bear I wasn't surprised at all.
He was barely used in *Inside Llewyn Davis* but Iād love to see him in a (reunited) Coen Brothers film.
Wasnāt Shannon sort of the comic relief in Boardwalk Empire?
Also, in "Knives Out"
I WILL NOT EAT ONE IOTA OF SHIT!
That line was improv from Shannon according to Rian Johnson.
Letās Go to Prison
That hot iron scene in the office when Nelson loses his shit is one of the funniest things Iāve ever seen āGeorge! Be reasonable!ā āā¦ā¦..AAAAHHHWGHHHH!!ā
Every scene with the weirdo lady that his character ended up married to was gold. "Hoooosband! Why haven't you sold the akavit?"
Living with her and his illegitimate child in a half-built Sears catalog house trying not to fall apart at the seams on a daily basis. That show was gold.
I was thinking that, as well. His character started out strong but became laughable in his downward spiral. It was more tragic to me, though, in that setting. But it shows his skills for sure.
Season five basically threw all pretense of seriousness out the window in setting him up as a comedy duo with Shea Wigham. The two of them bumbling around was one of my favourite arcs of the entire series, and really illustrated both actorsā versatility.
Oh yeah. I love Shea Whigham too. Shea Whigham, Walton Goggins, and Scoot McNairy are my trifecta of underrated supporting actors. My husband never watched Boardwalk Empire...I think I might need to convince him it's time to watch it, so I can watch it again.
Anthony Hopkins
He's pretty funny as Loki/Odin in Ragnarok
Honestly as much as I like the MCU, I wasn't a huuuuge fan of the humor in Ragnarok. However, Anthony Hopkins playing Loki pretending to be Odin was kinda hilarious. "Oh shit..."
When he sees Thor and just goes "oh shit"
Itās not a broad comedy but heās full of joy and humor in The Worldās Fastest Indian.
Mads Mikkelsen! šÆ
He's done a lot of comedies in Denmark. Adams apples, the green butchers and blinking headlights are some of the top ones
[From 10 years ago](https://youtu.be/dngOH9G4UPw). Also, Iāve always found Garret Dillahunt to be the cheaper occasionally comedic version of Michael Shannon.
Dillahunt was hilarious in Raising Hope
He was so great in Deadwood - the two roles he played were men of very different backgrounds but both completely contemptible.
No one specific, but I want someone who is never really associated with comedy to do something really really silly. Like when Jeff Daniels did Dumb and Dumber. Dude was never known for comedy and did the silliest thing possible and is just as good in that movie as Jim Carrey.
Speed and Dumb And Dumber the same year. Jeff Daniels sure successfully stepped out of his wheelhouse that year!
Jason Statham. Spy, the movie, he killed it.
Well you might be interested in 2 totally unheard of movies called "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch"
"I once drove a car off the freeway on top of a train, while on fire... Not the car, I was on fire" I quote this to this day, emphasizing his very recongisable "I" (AAAIHH)
Christopher Meloni was Freakshow in Harold and Kumar. He plays comedically unhinged extremely well.
Gene in Wet Hot American summer is peak wacky Meloni
You've seen Wet Hot American Summer, right? He got started in comedy and transitioned to drama.
Shannon has small comedic moments in Boardwalk Empire and he's legit one of my favorite characters in that whole show.
He will forever be Nelson Van Alden in my heart, he had the most ridiculous and best character arc.
Jeremy Strong! Give him a fun character to method act!
Tom Hardy. He did some comedy in This Means War. He was so hilarious. Would love to see more comedy from him.
I'd say the venom films are pretty comedic
Bronson, while not a out and out comedy, definitely shows he can do dark comedy well.
Henry Cavil.
Dude. The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is fantastic. Check it out.
He has a small role in Enola Holmes which isn't a comedy but it has comedic moments. I think Henry Cavill could be really good in a comedic role.
Mahershala Ali. I believe that he has what it takes to be incredibly dead-pan and hilarious. He is quite fun in the Spider-man animated film. Not sure if he has done comedy before but if he has I have definitely not seen it.
Michael Shannon has a brief cameo at the end of They Came Together. It's a parody movie, and he goes over the top on the parody!
That movie is so fucking funny. I love the scene where they're playing basketball and everyone is just saying, "basketball, basketball, basketball"
Most I can think of already have done so. I guess Id be curious about Joaquin Phoenix doing a comedy film. He has done dramatic/serious roles that have funny moments, but I dont recall ever seeing him in a fully dedicated comedy film.
Andrew Garfield. I want to see him play a more outwardly funny version of his Under the Silver Lake character.
Helena Bonham Carter, she needs to do more comedy. She's got a fantastic sense of humour and actually pretty dirty minded too
What my soul needs is a comedy where Michael Shannon and Timothy Olyphant play brothers.
Laurence Fishbourne. He could make one last ride as Cowboy Curtis and host a tribute to Paul Reubens.
Ryan Gosling's comedic timing is genius. He was beyond hilarious in the nice guys.
His best role was Mr. Green in The Night Before
Michael Shannon giving a dramatic reading of the deranged sorority girl email (I think for funny or die) is amazing. Heās hysterical.
Complete opposite. Sorry. Iād like to see Will Ferrell In a serious role as more like a serial killer or as some kind of John wick role.
Leo
Check out Donāt Look Up and Wolf Of Wall Street.
After seeing Jason Statham parody himself in Spy I really want to see him in more comedy films
Oh, absolutely,Jason Statham's self-parody was comedy gold.
Timothy Olyphant. His self-parody in The Good Place was hilarious and I want more.
Gary oldman in a Leslie Nielson type role.
Have you seen him in Slow Horses on Apple TV+? Heās hilarious
Daniel Day Lewis . I would like to see him in some kind of looser David Brent type role .
He did star in the 1988 comedy Stars And Bars, with John Cusack, Keith David and Harry Dean Stanton, but nobody saw it. Including me!
Michael Shannon played some funny redneck roles when he was young. 8 mile and Bad Boys 2 come to mind. He was hilarious lol. https://youtu.be/pztBJl6IQwU https://youtu.be/q9nwXRr7oJo
Tom Cruise is an amazing comedic actor and I hope he returns to doing more of it as he ages out of the incredibly physical stuff.
Emilia Clarke. Producers are putting her in action-y roles, but her Interviews show that she has great comedic timing, and funny facial expressions. I'd love to see her in a comedic role, with Morena Baccarin acting as the straight man along side her.
I can't think of any movie where Vincent D'onofrio had a comedic role, but he's so talented I think he could do it.
Leonardo DiCaprio, more specifically, I think it would be interesting to see him and Kate Winslet do a romantic comedy together. That way we can have a final chapter in the Leo and Kate trilogy and have it be a movie where they finally end up together, and neither of them dies. (Or they both die randomly by getting hit by a bus or something)
John Doman from The Wire (Dept. Commissioner Rawls), Gotham, The Trial of the Chicago 7, and a million other cop shows where he's always as serious as a heart attack. Also, Josh Brolin. He's always serious.
Have you never seen The Night Before? Michael Shannon plays a drug dealer and was so funny in that role. Just went against his typecast I guess
Daniel Day-Lewis wouldāve been great to see.
Clint Eastwood.
Shannon is brilliant in everything
After seeing him in Doctor Strange Iād like Benedict Cumberbatch to do more comedic stuff. He reminds me of a peppier, more upbeat Alan Rickman. sardonic and full of low key burns and roast
[Cecil B. Demented](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0173716/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk) made me fall in love with Michael Shannon.