Photo: Fox Searchlight
The older we get, the more we seem to care less what people think. The same is true with the more great movies we see, the less we care what Rotten Tomatoes thinks, especially when it comes to the classic comedies they wrongfully crush. While we may be harsh critics of a lot of movies, we’re in high praise of some hit movies, whether or not they scored well in the box office, with some of our favorite actors.
Consider all the crap that’s out there now, we find it hard to believe that some of the best comedies with folks like Bill Murray, Tom Hanks, Adam Sandler and Chris Farley in their prime don’t score well. This flawed Tomatometer needs recalibrating, which we’ll prove with some of the greatest disparities in classic comedy reviews between “professional” critics and the audience. And while the average audience may not be the best judge of what’s actually good, films like Grandma’s Boy and Super Troopers show us otherwise.
Now stick around while we tear Rotten Tomatoes a bright, new red hole.
10 Movies Wrongfully Crushed by Rotten Tomatoes
For more movie madness: The Government Thinks It Can Take ‘Ace Ventura: Pet Detective’ Away From Us, Too? Not on Our Watch!
Low-Rated Classics on Rotten Tomatoes
-
"Ghostbusters 2" (51%)
Photo: Columbia Pictures
For one of the best sequels in history, we find it hard to believe such a good companion film, despite what many will say, could receive such lower rating than its original. It's not like Bill Murray and slime went out of style.
-
"Super Troopers" (35%)
Photo: Fox Searchlight
Considering the fundraising for a sequel and the audience rating of 90 percent, we're going to guess that Rotten Tomatoes made a big mistake. That, or they went for a piss during every Farva scene. How is a syrup chugging contest not awarded a perfect score?
-
"Dumb & Dumber" (66%)
Photo: New Line Cinema
While 66 percent may not seem that low, it is when it comes to easily one of the best comedies in all of history. And while the sequel deserved a lower score, it didn't deserve quite that low of score (29%).
-
"Grandma's Boy" (16%)
Photo: 20th Century Fox
The biggest disparity between "professional" critic and audience review goes to this gem, whose audience rated it a cool 85 percent. Clearly the folks of Rotten Tomatoes need new reviewers, or just anyone with a decent sense of humor.
-
"Billy Madison" (46%)
Photo: Universal Pictures
Before he was a kiddy Disney dad or a B-movie Netflix star, Adam Sandler was the big daddy of comedy. Yet, somehow, his best works seems to go under appreciated with ratings for Happy Gilmore (60%) and The Waterboy (35%) at impressively low numbers, despite clear audience approval.
-
"The 'Burbs" (47%)
Photo: Universal Studios
Anything 1980s comedy with Tom Hanks and Bruce Dern in their prime deserves a gold medal, but The 'Burbs also had the late Carrie Fisher, Corey Feldman before he lost his mind and one of the best neighborly comedy plots ever. And The Money Pit getting the same low score makes about as little sense.
-
"Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" (45%)
Photo: Warner Bros.
How this movie hits below the 50 percent mark, along with its sequel When Nature Calls (33%), but The Cable Guy, the most underrated comedy of the '90s, beats both with 54 percent shows us Rotten Tomatoes's rating system is...a rotten...tomato.
-
"Fear & Loathing" (49%)
Photo: Universal Pictures
It's no secret Johnny Depp struggles in the box office when he's not in his buccaneer outfit, but that isn't for lack of trying. Any book adaptation of Hunter Thompson involving drugs, the desert and Benicio del Toro is deserving of a much higher rating.
-
"Tommy Boy" (44%)
Photo: Paramount Pictures
Chris Farley, a late SNL great and lovably overweight teddy bear, managed to leave this world with some priceless '90s comedies, the best of which couldn't manage very decent tomato reviews with Black Sheep (28%) and Beverly Hills Ninja (14%). You'd think they'd cut him some slack with the whole death thing.
-
"Turner & Hooch" (54%)
Photo: Buena Vista Pictures
Our favorite buddy copy film's low rating can only be attributed to the death of the dog at the end. Because, Lord knows, there's no good reason for a 1980s Tom Hanks film with Carl Winslow (Reginald VelJohnson) and a bunch of dogs to get a rating so low.
