The 2010s was a fantastic decade for dramedies. While there are many who balk at the term for not sticking to one specific genre, they fail to realize that not everything is as streamlined as they’d like to think. Dramedies offer a window into many kinds of emotions on screen; the kind where you can find light in dark moments, use humor to cope with tragedy, and maintain a balance of feelings, whether the rating is G or R.
Dramedies can also be career-making opportunities for actors, writers, and directors in the film business.Any artist who can find that perfect balance while also telling a compelling story is doing something right.Because cinema is all about taking you on a journey of feelings, whether happy, sad, scared, or angry. Many films were like that in the 2010s and these are the ones—with an R-rating—that did it the best.
10’The Big Short' (2015)
Directed by Adam McKay
Talk about a complete change in directorial style. Previously best known for his comedies likeAnchormanandStep Brothers, directorAdam McKaystepped into new territory with the 2015 release ofThe Big Short. Based on the book byMichael Lewis, the film is a dramatization of the true events that led to the 2007-2008 financial crisis, all told from the points-of-view of several characters. Boasting major star power with names likeChristian Bale,Steve Carell,Ryan Gosling, andBrad Pitt,The Big Shortwas compelling as it was frustrating. Not because of quality, but because of what the film was about.
UnlikeUp in the Air,which tied its recession setting into the film’s central storyline and themes,The Big Shorttook a more detailed approach into why this tumultuous event happened the way it did, starting with the 2007 housing market crash. While it does dive deep into direct explanations that sometimes feel like sitting in a classroom, the film is at its strongest when it comes to using humor to relate to the audience, mainly through the performances of the cast. There was nothing humorous about the recession, butThe Big Shortprovides an opportunity for an engaging journey into understanding the past.
The Big Short
9’The Disaster Artist' (2017)
Directed by James Franco
Sometimes, the worst film ever made can spawn something great, whether it’s another film or even a friendship.The Roomhas earned a reputation as a “so-bad-it’s-good” movie, gaining a huge cult following over the years. This resulted in cast memberGreg Sesterowriting the book “The Disaster Artist”, detailing his time working onThe Roomas well as his friendship with the fascinatingly mysteriousTommy Wiseau, its director/writer/producer/star. Its film adaptation, also calledThe Disaster Artist, was directed by and starringJames Francoas Wiseau and released in 2017, receiving praise from critics and fans ofThe Room.
Franco’s portrayal as Wiseau—complete with the same accent and mannerisms—was met with acclaim and even won him a Golden Globe for Best Lead Actor in a Comedy or Musical. The film also marked the only collaboration between him and his brotherDave Franco, who played Sestero. Much ofthe humor inThe Disaster Artistcomes from Wiseau’s offbeat and eccentric behavioras well as Sestero’s reactions to it all, making for great comedic chemistry between the two. While the film does not go as deep as the book did, Franco manages to tell acoherently funny and touching story about doing what you love despite the results, and that friendship is at the heart of it all.The Disaster Artistis charming, hilarious, and everything but a disaster.
The Disaster Artist
8’Young Adult' (2011)
Directed by Jason Reitman
Young Adultwas the second collaboration between directorJason Reitmanand screenwriterDiablo Cody, afterJuno. Despite not receiving similar success, it remains an underrated dramedy that dared to make its audience uncomfortable and deserves re-appraisal. Academy Award-winnerCharlize Theronplays Mavis Gary, a successful novelist in Minneapolis who suffers from depression and alcoholism. One day, she learns that her ex-boyfriend from high school, Buddy (Patrick Wilson) became a father, and decides to return to her hometown of Mercury, Minnesota to win him back. Along the way, she befriends a former unpopular classmate, Matt, played byPatton Oswaltin a touching supporting role.
The premise already sounds unappealing and would immediately make audiences dislike Mavis, butYoung Adultmakes it clear that that’s the entire point of the film. People misinterpret the idea that protagonists need to be likable, but that’s not the case; they, at the very least, need to be interesting. Theron’s performance as a former popular girl at the bottom of the barrel is filled with enough pathos and believability that you’ll want to stay and see where she goes with her plan, no matter how uncomfortable the results are.Young Adultis about how just because you’ve reached adulthood does not mean you have matured.
Young Adult
7’Silver Linings Playbook' (2012)
Directed by David O. Russell
The films ofDavid O. Russellhave leaned heavily on characters rather than story, withbig dramatic moments that rely greatly on actors improvising strong choicesin order to move things forward.Silver Linings Playbookis no exception; a romantic comedy that centers around the struggles of mental health and football fandom. Bradley Cooper plays Pat Solitano Jr., a man with bipolar disorder who wishes to win back his ex-wife. Along the way, he meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence, in an Oscar-winning performance) who helps him in exchange for participating in a dance contest, but sparks fly between them despite their own baggage.
The performances and chemistry between Cooper and Lawrencewere what madeSilver Linings Playbookexcel and resonate with audiences. With this film as well asThe Hunger Gamesunder her belt, 2012 became a career-making year for Lawrence. Along with the supporting performances ofRobert De Niro,Jackie Weaver, andChris Tucker, they helped elevateSilver Linings Playbookinto more than just an average romantic comedy. There’s heartbreak, but also humor. There’s drama, but also plenty of laughs through believable situations. And there’s the Philadelphia Eagles, but also dancing.
Silver Linings Playbook
6’Birdman' (2014)
Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu
Michael Keatonis no stranger to the superhero genre; he’s been Batman, the Vulture, and…Birdman? In a performance that should have won him the Oscar for Best Actor, Keaton stars inBirdman(full title beingBirdman: The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), a dramedy about actor Riggan Thompson trying to make a career comeback with a Broadway play despite being best known for playing a superhero known as Birdman. Directed byAlejandro G. Iñárritu, the film was a critical and financial success upon its 2014 release andwon 4 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
One of the many notable aspects ofBirdmanis itsmeta-deconstruction of Keaton’s own career, despite that not being the original intention by Iñárritu.It explores the idea of artists attempting career comebacks after their biggest successes brought them little to no opportunities, while also seeing their journey as the everyman and how their relationships fare.Birdmanalso received praise for its cinematography, making it all appear as one long continuous take, adding new layers to the performances of the cast and portraying the urgency of putting on a show. By being funny, tragic, thought-provoking, and entertaining,Birdmaneasily flies high.
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
5’BlackKklansman' (2018)
Directed by Spike Lee
In the 1970s, a Black police officer in Colorado Springs posed as a white racist to go undercover and infiltrate the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan. And that’s not just the plot of a 2018 film, it was an actual true story. Based on the memoir of retired police officerRon Stallworth,BlackKklansmanis considered to be one of the best films by directorSpike Lee, earning him an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. WithJohn David Washingtongiving a star-making performance as Stallworth and an incredible supporting cast featuringAdam DriverandLaura Harrier, there’s a lot to admire about crime dramedy.
BlackKklansmanis a powerfully provocative film that makes audiences face the uncomfortable truths of racism in America, building up to its powerful ending. Without revealing any spoilers, it informs you that despite what happens, these issues will remain relevant.That’s Spike Lee in a nutshell, unapologetically throwing the truth in your face and doing a great job of it.BlackKklansmanalso excels in keeping a consistent tone from beginning to end. The performances are engaging, the social commentary is on point, and the story keeps it focused on the themes while still being an entertaining thriller.
BlacKkKlansman
4’The Favourite' (2018)
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
It can be argued that sometimes, accuracy does not matter when it comes to films about history, as long as you can make an entertaining story. That’s why a lot of historical fiction exists. For example, there’sThe Favourite, directed byYorgos Lanthimosand considered to be one of the best films of 2018. Set in Great Britain in the 18th century, Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) suffers from poor health and leaves governing duties to Lady Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz). But when Sarah’s cousin Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives, they both fight for the attention of the Queen, hoping to be considered her “favourite”, or intimate companion.
The three leading ladies make for an undeniably funny trio throughout this dark comedy, especially Colman, whose performance won her the Oscar for Best Actress. Instead of just offering astandard interpretation of the history of Queen Anne and her circle,The Favouriteborders on weird and funny, which Lanthimos is best known for in his filmography.It explores comedy through the competitive nature of the characters while demonstrating the pros and cons of yearning for power dynamics.The Favouriteindulges in outrageous absurdity right away without having to explain why.
The Favourite
3’Lady Bird' (2017)
Directed by Greta Gerwig
After a career of starring in indie films,Greta Gerwiggained newfound status as an acclaimed director. But before helming films based on major properties likeLittle Women,Barbie, and the upcomingChronicles of Narniaseries, Gerwig made her directorial debut withLady Bird,an original screenplay and, debatably, her most personal project to date. Set in Sacramento in 2002,Saoirse Ronanplays Christine “Lady Bird’ McPherson, a highly-opinionated high school senior who wishes to carve her own path in the world after graduation, but is always at odds with her overbearing mother, Marion (Laurie Metcalf).
Lady Birdwas hailed as one of the best films of 2017, appearing on many Top 10 lists and receiving five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. It’s a remarkable coming-of-age story filled with realistic moment upon moment that adds layers to all the characters, particularly Lady Bird herself.The film does an amazing job of capturing the hardships of awkward teen life, especially in an early 2000s, post-9/11 world.Lady Birddoes what a great dramedy should do: balance the comedy and drama with the right amount of humor and agony to tell a good story.
2’Her' (2013)
Directed by Spike Jonze
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) has become a hot-button topic in recent years. There has been constant debate about the pros and cons of when to use AI. While the subject of companionship is undoubtedly questionable, it can still make for a compelling story, even a love story. That’s what happened withHer, a 2013 romantic dramedy written and directed bySpike Jonze. In the distant future, Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix) is a lonely man in Los Angeles who develops a romantic relationship with a virtual assistant powered by his operating system, called Samantha (voiced byScarlett Johansson).
What makesHerwork so well arethe performances of Phoenix and Johansson; most of the film is spent with them in constant conversation, but because we can only see him and hear her, it still works through how believable their relationship is without veering into absurdity. The operating system Theodore uses was originally designed to meet his every need, but when it came to the idea of romance, Samantha was there for him when he needed it the most.Heris Jonze’s most poignant work, filled with nuance, sincerity, and heart-tugging moments; hebrought dignity to a premise that could have easily had none.
1’Parasite' (2019)
Directed by Bong Joon-ho
The best way to close out the 2010s was not to award the Oscar for Best Picture toJokerorOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood, but to the South Korean filmParasite.It was a smash hit worldwide with critics and audiences and also holds the distinction of being the first non-English-language Best Picture winner. From acclaimed directorBong Joon-hocomes a tale of two families in Seoul; the low-income Kims and the wealthy Parks. The Kim family uses their skills and manipulation to pose as employees for the Park family in a secret effort to infiltrate their luxurious home. But it turns out there’s more to the house than they expected.
Without getting into spoiler territory,what makesParasitework is the fact that it reveals major twists and turns starting at the halfway point. It brilliantlytouches on the themes of class inequality and wealth disparity while also being critical of capitalism. While still maintaining that it’s a satirical dramedy,Parasitealso becomes a thriller, and an engaging one as well. Very rarely do films change things halfway through and still manage to be consistently great, which is another reason why it deserves all the praise.Parasiteis not only the best dramedy—and arguably one of the best films—of the 2010s, it’s also a masterclass in storytelling.
