UK Vs. US: Battle of the belly laughs

While Richard Curtis’ comedy The Boat That Rocked sails onto DVD, Judd Apatow’s aptly titled Funny People is already making waves on the big screen. Curtis’ comedy set in the swingin’ sixties on a pirate (radio) ship, is an ocean apart from Apatow’s off-beat storyline of a narcissistic comedian diagnosed with a rare blood disease.

Two very different directors with two very different approaches to comedy, which can only mean one thing and one thing alone: A transatlantic battle of the belly-laughs.

In the British corner LOVEFiLM has rounded up five comedy heavy weights; Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Rowan Atkinson, Simon Pegg and Sacha Baron Cohen. And in the American corner we have selected five Hollywood contenders; Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd and Steve Carell. Let the laughter begin!

U.K. Comedy

Bill Nighy

With a sexed up Christmas record under his belt, courtesy of his crooner character Bill Mack in Love Actually, Bill Nighy has proved his worth as one of the U.K.’s finest comedians. With a solid background in acting, Nighy has kept a straight face for dramatisations in television, theatre and film. He even went so far as donning (CGI) tentacles and a Scottish accent for his role in Pirates of the Caribbean 2 & 3. But it is through his dry British wit and penchant for all things amusing that audiences have come to know and love Nighy. Love Actually, Hot Fuzz, G-Force and The Boat That Rocked are just a few of Nighy’s funny films.

Rhys Ifans

Starring alongside Nighy in The Boat That Rocked is Sienna Miller’s ex squeeze Rhys Ifans. Ifans’ breakout role as Hugh Grant’s butt-bearing roommate, Spike in Richard Curtis’ 1999 comedy Notting Hill, kicked off the Welsh born actor’s comedy career. However, not wanting to be type-cast Ifans kept his ear to the ground for more interesting and often obscure projects, such as the dancing undertaker in Oasis’ music video for the Importance of being Idle. Ifans also teamed up with Adam Sandler in Little Nicky and with TV comedian Harry Enfield to play Eyeball Paul in Kevin And Perry Go Large.

Rowan Atkinson

As the face of Blackadder, Mr Bean and Johnny English (to name but a few), Rowan Atkinson has secured his rightful place in the U.K. comedy hall of fame. Making it his life’s work to cause comedy mayhem and amusement, Atkinson rarely takes himself too seriously. As the starring lead in several films and television series and supporting roles in two Curtis classics (Love Actually, Four Weddings And A Funeral), this Brit born star has kept U.K. comedy afloat across the pond and on home turf. From silly slapstick to comic irony, Atkinson has all comedy bases covered.

Simon Pegg

Creator of quirky comedy Spaced, Simon Pegg has since made his mark on the comedy scene with a string of feature length films. Best known for lead roles in Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz and Run Fatboy Run, Pegg is famous for his funny approach - as a director, producer, writer and actor - both on and off the screen. Teaming up with Tom Cruise in 2006’s Mission Impossible III earned Pegg Hollywood status and opened up numerous doors for the British star, including the part of Scotty in this year’s blockbuster, Star Trek. With Friends such as David Schwimmer Pegg has comedy connections in both countries.

Sacha Baron Cohen

Famous for his shock tactics and over the top comedy caricatures, Sacha Baron Cohen is perhaps the most controversial British comedian of the noughties. With a range of several outrageous characters, Cohen rocked the box office in 2006 with the introduction of Kazakh journalist Borat, and most recently courted controversy with Austrian fashion journalist, Brüno. Cohen is one of the few comedians of today whose characters have been known to make real life appearances outside of their fictional narrative. Earlier this year Cohen and rap artist Eminem caused an uproar with a staged a scene at the MTV Music Awards.

U.S. Comedy

Adam Sandler

All American comedian, Adam Sandler has several laugh-out-loud identities some of which include; The Waterboy, The Wedding Singer, Little Nicky, Mr Deeds and Big Daddy. Sandler commands the U.S. comedy scene having worked with some of the most established actors in the industry, including Jack Nicholson, Drew Barrymore and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Partners in comedy crime Rob Schneider and Sandler have both shown each other support by appearing in one another’s films. Sandler famously turned down working on Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds in favour of Judd Apatow’s off-beat comedy Funny People. He has also worked with Britain’s very own big haired comedy talent Russell Brand in Disney’s Bedtime Stories.

Ben Stiller

Pint sized Ben Stiller may be a tad on the small side but his comedy is known to pack a side-splitting punch. Famous for his hair-raising antics in There’s Something About Mary and his trademark blue steel pose in Zoolander, Stiller’s comedy stylings are downright silly and fun. In 2000, Stiller married actress Christine Taylor, and the pair went onto star in several comedies together including Dodgeball, Zoolander and Tropic Thunder. A self-proclaimed ‘Trekker’, Stiller and Brit born Simon Pegg share a sci-fi bond, but it was Pegg who took on the part of wise-cracking Scotty in the recent feature film. Even so, Stiller as Scotty is something LOVEFiLM would certainly like to see.

Will Ferrell

Funny-man Will Ferrell started out as a cast member doing satirical sketches on the hit U.S. television show Saturday Night Live. His comedy has coined some of film’s most famous characters including Ron Burgundy (Anchorman) Frank the Tank (Old School), and Elf. Not willing to let any opportunity pass him by, Ferrell has tackled a variety of roles in television and film; from big to small and hilarious to mildly amusing - a decision which seems to have paid off. Ferrell has worked with some of today’s top comedian actors, including Ben Stiller in Zoolander, Jon Heder in Blades of Glory and Paul Rudd in Anchorman.

Paul Rudd

After a handful of rom-com stints, playing the likeable guy next door (Clueless, The Object Of My Affection), Paul Rudd tried his hand at humour with a recurring lead role as Pheobe’s Mike Hannigan in Friends - a move which prompted an array of filmic possibilities for the then, 33-year-old. Under the wing of writer/producer/director extraordinaire, Judd Apatow, Rudd found his natural dry humour put to good use as part of Apatow’s ensemble, showing off his self-deprecating tones in The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up.

Steve Carell

The U.S.’s answer to Ricky Gervais in The Office, Steve Carrell has fast become one of America’s most recognised comedians. After stealing the show as the absent minded weatherman Brick Tamland in Anchorman and losing his on-screen virginity at the ripe old age of 40, Carrell’s career really kicked off. A bit part in Bruce Almighty alongside Jim Carrey followed, cementing a lead role in the sequel Evan Almighty four years later. A LOVEFiLM favourite, Carrell also starred in the off-beat comedy/drama Little Miss Sunshine, opposite Greg Kinnear and Abigail Breslin.