15 Russian comedies for which you are not ashamed

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Lifehacker has collected the funniest domestic films without vodka, vulgarity and fights.

15. Faster than rabbits

• Russia, 2014.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 99 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 1.

Lyosha and Slava wake up in an unfamiliar room. They do not remember at all how they got there and what happened at night. Soon they are joined by their acquaintance Garik and some very strange guests: a policeman, a transvestite, a school friend from the USA and a prostitute. But the question remains the same: how did they all end up in the unknown house and why there are no windows and doors in it?

"Quartet I" became famous for its bright witty comedies, first on the theater stage, and then on the big screens. But Faster Than Rabbits is strikingly different from their earlier work. Here the authors went into black humor, talking about death. Perhaps that is why their new film received a lower rating than the previous ones. But still, stunning text jokes and unexpected images of familiar actors will definitely delight fans of their work.

14. Good boy

• Russia, 2016.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 95 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 4.

First, Kolya Smirnov fell in love with an English teacher. Then he was accused of setting fire to the school, which aroused the interest of high school student Ksyusha. And at the same time, Kolya's dad decided that it was possible to give up the night's sleep, and therefore real chaos reigns in the house. In a few days, the young hero will have to sort out all his life troubles, because a school holiday is coming, where all the characters will definitely meet.

The "good boy" can be accused of being somewhat disconnected from reality. But on the other hand, this bright and kind film never slips into excessive sociality and vulgarity. And a few storylines just entertain and introduce charming characters.

13. The last hero

• Russia, 2017.
• Comedy, fantasy.
• Duration: 114 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 5.

An ordinary Moscow guy Ivan is magically transported to a fairyland. The epic heroes, Baba Yaga and Koschey the Immortal, live here. And suddenly it turns out that it is Ivan who will become the main character in the struggle between good and evil.

This is the second film produced by Walt Disney Pictures in Russia. The famous studio provided a decent level of filming and special effects, which is very important for a fantasy plot. Humor, built on the differences between modern reality and the fairy-tale world, can hardly be called original. Still, there are plenty of good jokes in the plot. "The Last Bogatyr" was in second place in terms of grossing among Russian cinema in 2017, behind only "Upward movement", which was promoted much stronger.

12. I'm losing weight

• Russia, 2018.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 102 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 5.

Anya is thrown by a guy. All due to the fact that she loves to eat and does not follow the figure. Then the girl moves to her best friend and meets positive Kolya. Comrades are ready to help her lose weight, but will a slender figure bring happiness to Anya?

The role of the main character was offered to Irina Gorbacheva, but she chose to play her ironic best friend. And the image of Ani went to Alexandra Bortich. Especially for the role, the actress gained about 20 kilograms, and then lost weight right in the course of filming in accordance with the plot. In general, the film came out naive, but kindness and a reasonable ending, emphasizing that the inner feelings of a person are important, and not his figure, compensate for all the clichés.

11. Serf

• Russia, 2019.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 109 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 7.

Young major Grisha decided that everything was allowed to him. However, after another serious offense, the father decides to punish the arrogant youth. Grisha suddenly finds himself in a village of the 19th century, where he will work as a groom. Only such radical methods can re-educate the hero.

The picture by Klim Shipenko became a real hit in the Russian distribution, collecting more than 3 billion rubles. And it is well deserved. The ingenious film avoids unnecessary vulgarity, and the story of the hitman, played out in the form of a comedy, opened up space for a huge number of funny situations. And the film was shot very well indeed.

10. Savages

• Russia, 2006.
• Comedy, drama.
• Duration: 100 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 7.

The action takes place in August on the coast of the warm sea. A group of friends of different ages and occupations organizes a camp where they try not to talk about work and serious matters, but only to relax and have fun. But still, some problems reach these wild places.

The debut film of the theatrical director Viktor Shamirov consists of small short stories, which unite the heroes and the place of action. The characters behave funny and stupid, emphasizing the desire of every adult to sometimes take a break from all the worries and responsibilities. But the main thing is that this film is literally saturated with the atmosphere of summer and warmth.

9. Stories

• Russia, 2012.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 105 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 0.

The manuscript of the young writer, which got into the publishing house, mysteriously affects everyone who reads it. The events described in the four stories begin to happen to people in reality.

The painting consists of four short stories, each of which makes fun of different social themes. Planning a wedding for a young couple develops into organizing their entire future life. With a bribe in a car repair, a chain of corruption begins, which reaches the very top. The librarian helps the police find the child. A middle-aged man meets a charming girl while he is in a traffic jam.

In all these sarcastic plots, it is not difficult to recognize the realities of today, although the author has added a lot of comedic grotesque to them.

8. Kazan orphan

• Russia, 1997.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 82 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 0.

The village teacher Nastya decided to find her father. True, she knows too little about him, and therefore simply advertised in the newspaper. And on New Year's Eve, three people came to her house at once, each of whom seems to be her father.

This very kind atmospheric film became the directorial debut of the famous actor Vladimir Mashkov. But the main advantage of the picture is the performers of the main roles. Together with the novice Elena Shevchenko and Nikolai Fomenko, movie legends and audience favorites Valentin Gaft, Lev Durov and Oleg Tabakov starred in Orphan of Kazan.

7. Truth game

• Russia, 2010.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 95 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 0.

Three classmates gather at one of them to remember their youth and just have fun. They are joined by the beauty Maya, with whom all the heroes were once in love. True, a lot has changed since their last meeting. To defuse the embarrassing situation, friends decide to play: everyone promises to answer the truth even to the most frank questions. But soon it becomes very tense.

The painting by Viktor Shamirov grew out of the theatrical production of the same name. This explains the intimacy of the film: the characters are in a small apartment all the time. But such a limitation provides the film with liveliness: everything is built only on emotions and acting. And also "Playing in Truth" in many ways anticipated the Italian film "Perfect Strangers" and its Russian remake "Loudspeaker".

6. Shirley-Mirl

• Russia, 1995.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 143 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 0.

A diamond of unprecedented size is discovered in Yakutia. The government wants to sell it, which will allow the whole country to rest in the Canary Islands for three years. But the diamond is being stolen by the criminal Vasily Krolikov.

While trying to catch him, the police mistakenly arrest his twin brother Innokenty Shniperson, a famous conductor and composer who was just about to marry the daughter of the American ambassador. To help out the groom, the third brother comes to the rescue - the gypsy baron Roman Almazov.

Vladimir Menshov directed arguably the craziest comedy of the nineties. Almost all famous Russian actors have gathered in the film. And together they created a stunning phantasmagoria on the verge of absurdity.

5. Exercise in the beautiful

• Russia, 2011.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 93 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

Three middle-aged Moscow actors go on a familiar tour. But this time a completely inexperienced student is sent with them. Venerable colleagues at first treat the girl condescendingly, but gradually they accept her into their team.

This is another work of Shamirov, in which his favorite actors Gosha Kutsenko and Konstantin Yushkevich again gathered. The film shows the theatrical backstage with great irony. And at the same time, it simply tells about human relationships.

4. Down House

• Russia, 2001.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 80 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

Programmer Prince Myshkin was treated in a psychiatric clinic in Switzerland. He returns home for the inheritance, but meets the talkative Parfyon Rogozhin on the bus. He tells Myshkin about his love for Nastasya Filippovna, and the prince immediately becomes interested in this girl, even though he never saw her.

This film is based on Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel The Idiot. Only the director Roman Kachanov, already famous at that time thanks to the comedy "DMB", turned the plot into an absurdity. The film quickly sold out for quotes. And many even consider the role of Myshkin to be the best in the career of Fyodor Bondarchuk.

3. Window to Paris

• Russia, France, 1993.
• Comedy, drama.
• Duration: 120 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

Music teacher Nikolai Chizhov and his neighbors in a communal apartment find a window covered with a wardrobe in the room of the missing old woman. After passing through it, the heroes strangely move to Paris. And they immediately understand that such opportunities should be used for their own benefit.

Of course, in this film, the main emphasis is placed on the contrast between the world of post-Soviet communal apartments and dreams of abroad. But still, the picture of Yuri Mamin retains a light atmosphere, without plunging into excessive pity for the heroes or, conversely, ridiculing them. The film is regularly included in the lists of the best comedies of the nineties, and many viewers simply fell in love with it.

2. Election day

• Russia, 2007.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 125 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

The team of a popular radio station is given the task of promoting the desired candidate in the regional elections. They are organizing a large-scale promotional campaign, using all possible forces. But they got a very difficult client.

The debut film of the Quartet I theater is based on the performance of the same name. True, this story was originally a sequel to Radio Day, but the stories hit the big screens in the opposite order. Election Day has retained the best ideas from the theatrical production, only the surroundings and soundtrack have changed. But at the same time, the comedy perfectly ridicules typical political orders.

1. What men talk about

• Russia, 2010.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 93 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Four friends decide to go to Odessa for a concert of the group "Bi-2", and at the same time celebrate their friend's birthday. Each of them has problems during the training camp. Nevertheless, they embark on a journey, discussing all possible topics along the way.

A very funny conversational film from the same Quartet I became a real hit. In the dialogues of the characters, many viewers learned their own life situations. Later, the film had two sequels. Still, the first part is considered the most successful.