More often than not, comedy sequels tend to fall short of recapturing what made the originals so great. So with this week's release of Coming 2 America we've gathered a list of the 10 Best Comedy Sequels of All Time (even though there's really not a whole lot to choose from).
#10. Wayne's World 2
The pacing's a bit sloppy but overall, Wayne's quest to establish Waynestock and the new batch of pop culture references we hit along the way make this a worthy follow up. The chemistry of Mike Myers and Dana Carvey is as strong as ever and I could watch the scene with Myers impersonating the Leprechaun until the end of time and still laugh at Carvey's reaction.
#9. Jackass: Number Two
Without the pesky task of trying to tie in a story-line, it's no doubt that Jackass has an easier time overcoming the typical pitfalls a comedy sequel might face. The stunts are just as shocking and hilarious as the first go around with maybe their most memorable gimmick to date serving as the film's climax where one of their own becomes the target rather than the unsuspecting public.
#8. Rush Hour 2
Sure, Rush Hour 2 is definitely guilty of taking a lot of the same jokes from the original and reusing them in a different setting (aka the Hangover Part 2 paradox) but there are still enough new elements tossed in with peak performances from both Tucker and Chan elevating the film to more than just your average buddy cop action comedy. The odd couple play off of one another perfectly and bring so much energy and charisma to an otherwise simplistic premise just as well as they did in the first film.
#7. Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm
While the film can't quite escape the looming shadow of it's predecessor, Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm does string together some incredibly funny and memorable moments. Most of which are surprisingly delivered by new comer Maria Bakalova in a breakout performance as Borat's estranged daughter. The story line between Borat and his daughter is the backbone of the film and when it strays too far from that it begins to unravel. But thankfully it never goes beyond repair and When it's all said and done, this a fun follow up even if it never reaches the legendary status of the original.
#6. The Addams Family Values
The first Addams Family flick is fun, no doubt, but taking the family out and interact in the real world was the highlight and the sequel does an even better job at utilizing that angle. It also gives breakout Christina Ricci a much more central role with her hilarious trip to summer camp becoming the most memorable moment in their 90's cinematic run.
#5. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
While the original definitely has more heart, the sequel piles on the over the top laughs. Which can be a bit much at times but honestly, who doesn't love seeing Daniel Stern get pegged in the face with a brick? It definitely requires a ton of benefit of the doubt for you to get passed some of the ridiculous coincidences that align for the sequel to take place (not entirely unlike Fox's other unconventional holiday classic, Die Hard 2) but if you can suspend your disbelief and just enjoy the slapstick hilarity it's definitely a worthy holiday successor.
#4. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
The second entry in the Austin Powers series is definitely guilty of recycling some of the same material of the original, but this time without having to set up much of a plot or character backgrounds - we get way more time for Myers to riff with his existing cast of characters - especially Dr. Evil, who absolutely steals the show this time around. Between the expanded role of Seth Green and the addition of Mini Me and Fat Bastard, the villains prove to make for a funnier focal point than Austin Powers did in his own first film.
#3. Clerks II
After Kevin Smith claimed he was done with the View Askewniverse, five years later he returned and made a sequel to his seminal breakout hit. And while it's delinquent conversation pieces don't feel quite as authentic this time around, the film has a surprising heart at the center of it that makes revisiting these characters an incredibly fun and insightful parable about growing up - even still in your 30's. These characters obviously mean a great deal not only to Smith himself but the entire cast and seeing them embrace revisiting their roots is pretty incredible. I'm just hoping he doesn't beat it into the ground with the just announced Clerks III....
#2. Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey
Looking back at it, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure seems like such a fluky success story and the fact that a sequel even exists is pretty stunning. But the way that the follow up extends it's scale so massively is incredible. Rather than rehashing the time travel angle from the original the sequel not only takes us into the future but also sends our heroes to hell for a game of Twister with the Grim Reaper and heaven for a game of charades with two martian geniuses. The absolutely absurd new characters added into the fold make this unexpected film not only funnier than the original but even more distinct.
#1. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Hands down, this is the best comedy sequel ever made. Not to take anything away from the Griswald's trip to Wally World, but this stands on its own so well that few even recognize it as a sequel whatsoever. But that may be in part due to how forgettable European Vacation was and the ever-changing actors portraying the Griswald kids. But in the third outing, John Hughes crafts the perfect holiday comedy while Chevy Chase and Randy Quaid deliver career best performances in this Christmas classic that's become a must watch tradition every December. Every single character has so many hilarious quirks and flaws it's like visiting a family function you don't actually have to suffer through attending but getting to watch the insanity unfold from afar.
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