Blue steel: The most hilarious movies starring Ben Stiller
Throughout his career in Hollywood, Ben Stiller has entertained audiences with his excellent comedic timing, witty humor, and unparalleled acting skills. He has scored numerous hits as a director, screenwriter, and producer, including the recent TV show, Severance, but his biggest legacy will always be his acting career.
Stiller, the son of comedy duo Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, has had a presence in Hollywood since the 80s. He auditioned for the lead role in Back to the Future (1985) and even landed a guest spot on the classic TV show Miami Vice (1984-89). Since then, he’s solidified himself as one of the most bankable comedy stars in the world.
In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the most unforgettable Ben Stiller movies you must watch.
Zoolander (2001)
Zoolander is a must-watch Stiller movie that showcased his talent as an actor, writer, and director. It follows the life of a dim-witted male model, Derek Zoolander, who is brainwashed to assassinate the Prime Minister of Malaysia. This movie is full of iconic moments, and it helped to establish Stiller’s chemistry with Owen Wilson, who he would go on to collaborate with several more times.
It also marked the first collaboration between Stiller and Christine Taylor as a husband and wife duo. The belated sequel, Zoolander 2 (2016), failed to recapture the magic, but the original remains a modern classic.
Tropic Thunder (2008)
Released in 2008, Tropic Thunder is a satirical action-comedy movie that featured Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., and Jack Black. It follows a group of actors who are making an epic about the Vietnam War, only to find themselves trapped in a real-life combat situation.
Stiller’s character, Tugg Speedman, is a washed-up action star trying to revive his career, and his performance in this movie is note-perfect. The supporting cast manages to steal the show from him, though, whether it be Downey’s Oscar-nominated performance or the shockingly crass cameo from Tom Cruise.
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story is a sports-comedy movie that features Stiller and Vince Vaughn. It follows a group of misfit adults who enter a dodgeball tournament to win a cash prize and save their local gym from being shut down.
Ben Stiller’s character, White Goodman, is the owner of Globo Gym, and he gives his most absurd performance to date. He’s really at his best when he’s going over-the-top, and Vaughn’s deadpan style is the perfect foil. Dodgeball holds up.
Meet the Parents (2000)
Meet the Parents is the movie that made Ben Stiller a household name. It’s about a male nurse who gets caught up in a string of hilarious events that test his patience after being asked to spend a weekend with his girlfriend’s parents.
Robert De Niro, who played the role of Jack Byrnes, is excellent as the judgemental father, and his chemistry with Stiller is so good that it led to an entire franchise. The sequels may have made more money, but we all know the best one is the original.
There’s Something About Mary (1998)
There’s Something About Mary is a romantic-comedy film that features Stiller as Ted, a man still in love with his high school crush, Mary (Cameron Diaz). He hires a detective (Matt Dillon) to find her, only to discover that the detective has also fallen in love with Mary and is trying to win her heart.
This movie was arguably the peak of raunchy comedy in the 90s, carefully balancing gross-out humor with moments of genuine heart. Stiller is perfect as the nebbish Ted, and Diaz dazzles in the role that made her a star.
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In conclusion, Ben Stiller has starred in so many great movies that choosing just a few is a difficult task. He’s cemented his place in Hollywood as one of the best comedy actors of his generation, and his movies are definitely worth watching. So, grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy these classics.
