Canada is the land of comedians, though you may not know it. Greats like John Candy, Colin Mochrie and Jim Carrey hail from the Great White North, as does Sean Majumder, and Martin Short. It’s no surprise then, that there are more than a few good quality Canadian comedies that will leave your sides aching and your world view slightly altered.

The comedies that made our list are a little bit strange in their own right; some deal with controversial topics, and some take a topic you didn’t think you could laugh at and turn it on its ear. If you like situational comedy, and you can connect with feeling like an outsider, or trying to make something of yourself and the world around you, then these comedies are a must-watch for your next movie night:

Fido (2006)

We’ve started off the list with one of our most off-kilter options: A zombie comedy. It’s nothing like “Sean of the Dead”, with the premise taking an entirely different turn on the traditional zombie movie cliché. The film is set in a 1950s styled alternate reality, where zombies are used as a sort of servant/slave depending on your need and reason to ‘own’ one. The zombies are fitted with a sort of shock collar, which allows you to control their appetite for human flesh, and essentially bend them to your will.

The film focuses around a family and their zombie, Fido. Without giving too much away, this movie deals with the power of the all-mighty corporation, forbidden love, loyalty, friendship, and the darkness of humanity. It all comes off with a warm fuzzy ending, well… as warm and fuzzy as a zombie comedy can be! A definite conversation starter and an entertaining film you’ll be happy you took the risk to see.

Did we like it? 4.5 out of 5.

Bon Cop, Bad Cop (2006)

The title of this film might have tipped you off, but this movie is bilingual. It features dialogue in both of Canada’s official languages; English and French. Two cops, one from English speaking Ontario and one from French speaking Montreal come together to solve a murder. Their two personalities collide in such stereotypical ‘good cop-bad cop’ ways, that you may think the movie will be too cliché and too formulaic, but director Eric Canuel makes sure you never get too comfortable with the police genre stereotypes.

This film has sex, drugs, crude humour, swearing (in multiple languages), and a great storyline that keeps you guessing until the very end. It’s a bit of a dark comedy, so if jokes about murder victims or hockey teams aren’t for you, you might want to give this one a miss. The film itself is shot in darker shades, adding to the atmosphere and helping to contrast the humour found throughout. This film did very well in Canada, and it’s one you should definitely try.

Did we like it? 5 out of 5.

Men with Brooms (2002)

A romantic comedy that revolves around a curling team; it sounds strange and that’s because it is a bit, but it’s also a pretty amazing film.  It starts with the death of a small town’s curling coach, and his dying request for his old team to be reunited and band together to win a championship and bring glory back to their small town ice rink. The motley crew comes together, each member of the team with their own story to contribute, and because of their sordid, and sometimes complicated history, humour ensues. There’s love, there’s anger, and at the core there is a heartwarming underdog story to follow along and root for. With a cast including Leslie Nielson, Molly Parker and Paul Gross, this film delivers on the laughs and in entertainment.

Did we like it? 4 out of 5 stars.

If these films challenged your vocabulary with their Canadian slang, interesting accents, and unique subject matter, why not contact us and see what English courses we have available near you, to help you master Canadian lingo?