Rachel McAdams remains one of our great modern stars, an actor capable of delivering riveting dramatic performances in projects such as The Notebook, Red Eye, Spotlight, and True Detective. As it turns out, she’s also a damn fine comedian, having proven her worth in a handful of comedy vehicles that make the most of her natural charm and impeccable comic timing. With Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. hitting theaters soon, I thought it’d be fun to look back and see where the Rachel McAdams comedy movies ranked from worst to best.
10) Aloha
Sometimes Hollywood produces a film that’s so miscalculated that it’s almost insulting. In this case, Cameron Crowe’s Aloha is a spectacular misfire that wastes a talented cast – Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams, Bill Murray, John Krasinski, and Danny McBride – on a bland, predictable storyline that meanders towards an unsatisfying conclusion. Moreover, it’s not particularly funny or emotionally resonant in the vein of Crowe’s best pictures – Jerry Maguire, Say Anything, and Almost Famous – and further exemplifies the writer/director’s failing skills as a filmmaker, which is why it is at the bottom of our list of Rachel McAdams comedy movies ranked from worst to best.
9) The Hot Chick
I can’t knock The Hot Chick too much. This is a film without many artistic aspirations, and to that end, it works as a silly, one-note gross-out comedy. Many of the jokes fall flat, but there’s still some fun in this story about a woman named Jessica (Rachel McAdams) who finds herself trapped in Rob Schneider’s body. The plot synopsis and cast – including Anna Faris – tell you everything you need to know about this early 2000s entry. If you think the idea of Schneider acting like a woman is funny, this is probably for you.
8) Morning Glory
This Rachel McAdams vehicle wastes its star power on a dumb plot about a newbie news producer trying her best to stay afloat in a cutthroat business but gets by on intermediate charm. McAdams is great in the lead and does excellent work opposite grumpy ole Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton. Director Roger Michell gets sporadic laughs by poking fun at those cheesy early-morning news shows, replete with cheesy segments. Unfortunately, the script by Aline Brosh McKenna fails to craft enough drama to keep viewers invested, leaving Morning Glory as little more than a fluffy, albeit shallow comedy.
7) Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
The terrific Will Ferrell/Rachel McAdams pairing saves this silly comedy from falling off the rails completely. This is the very definition of a one-joke comedy that would have worked better as a 15-minute sketch. Ferrell and McAdams are great as a pair of singers competing in a global music competition, with the latter displaying some solid comedic chops. Eurovision is sporadically fun, occasionally hilarious, and worth a look. Still, you’ll likely forget about it immediately after changing the channel.
6) About Time
More drama than comedy, About Time sees Domhnall Gleeson using his time travel powers to fix various aspects of his life with surprisingly emotional results. Director Richard Curtis mines the most from the material. He arrives at a poignant conclusion that will leave all but the most cynical warm, and fuzzy inside. Rachel McAdams costars as Gleeson’s love interest, and the pair display fantastic chemistry even as their partnership takes a backseat to other dramatic bits. This is one of those lost gems that everyone should check out at some point. Sure, it hits a few speed bumps, but About Time strikes more than it misses. Look for Margot Robbie in a fun early role.
5) The Family Stone
One of my favorite Christmas movies, The Family Stone, follows the tried-and-true dysfunctional family holiday gathering concept but dives deeper than your average comedy. An all-star cast – namely, Diane Keaton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rachel McAdams, Dermot Mulroney, Luke Wilson, Claire Danes, and Craig T. Nelson – anchors this film about an uptight woman (Parker) who ventures into the lion’s den over the holidays to meet her fiancé’s judgmental family. Well-scripted and acted, The Family Stone is a powerful human drama that finds humor in the most unlikely places.
4) Midnight in Paris
Woody Allen’s quirky, magical comedy finds disillusioned writer Owen Wilson traveling back in time to meet with some of literature’s most significant writers who contribute to his novel. The further he travels back in time, often hand-in-hand with the beautiful Adriana (Marion Cotillard), the more he realizes the importance of living in the present. Rachel McAdams costars as Wilson’s snarky fiancé, a woman yearning for more than he has to offer. Midnight in Paris is a lighthearted piece of filmmaking with snappy dialogue and fun performances. While it doesn’t rival Allen’s best work, the film is still a delightfully entertaining creative work.
3) Game Night
Terrific comedy featuring Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams as a married couple who wind up participating in a game that gets a little too out of control – to put it mildly. Writers/directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein show the same whip-smart comedic flare displayed in other ventures (including Spider-Man: Homecoming and the recent Dungeons & Dragons, for example) and make the most of their admittedly thin premise. Thankfully, everything clicks, resulting in a side-splitting comedy for adults.
2) Mean Girls
Tina Fey scripted this hilarious Mark Waters comedy that explores the relationship between new student Lindsey Lohan and a pack of “mean girls” led by Rachel McAdams. Sharp humor abounds, but the film resonates as a thought-provoking examination of high school, relationships, and the culture shaping our kids. Lohan and McAdams are terrific, while Amanda Seyfried, Fey, Lacey Chabert, Lizzy Caplan, and Tim Meadows offer strong support. I don’t want to go too far and call this a comedy classic, but how else can you define Mean Girls – one of the best comedies of the early 2000s?
1) Wedding Crashers
Wedding Crashers is a dumb movie, but there is no denying that it is hilarious. Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson carry a thin premise about two men who crash weddings for women to comedy glory, aided considerably by the lovely Rachel McAdams and Isla Fisher. Together, this foursome navigates a wonky script (and a crazy Bradley Cooper performance) and delivers enough good humor to carry audiences past the film’s weaker moments. Look out for a terrific football bit and a pheasant hunt that always leaves me in stitches. Plus, Will Ferrell is great in it.
Everything comes together in Wedding Crashers for it to top our list of Rachel McAdams comedy movies ranked from worst to best.
