9 comedy movie quotes that need to be retired
Zack Barangan
Everyone is guilty of over-quoting. From the Austin Powers “Yeah, baby!” circa 1997, to pretty much everything Jim Carrey said in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. But in the past, quotes have run the normal cycle: first you and your friends start saying it, then every so often you’ll hear it at a bar, then someone over the age of 40 uses it which is usually the automatic death knell for most quotes. But in the last few years, it seems that some lines just will not go away.
Now it’s almost impossible to stop over-quoting altogether, but if you avoid dropping the following quotes in casual conversation, you’ll be doing your part to help solve a serious problem.
1 “You know how I know you’re gay?” Seth Rogan and Paul Rudd, The 40-Year-Old Virgin
It’s understood that when guys hang out together they are bound to start talking smack. But really, when guys pull this one out, it’s really just saying that they’ve run out of creative ways to insult and question their friend’s masculinity. And if that’s really the best a dude can come up with, they don’t have any business engaging in a battle of wits.
2 “I am McLovin. Chicka, chicka yeah..” Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Superbad
No you’re not. Please stop calling yourself that. It barely worked in the movie, it will never work in real life. It’s really better off that you leave this one alone and introducing yourself by your given name. Besides, do you really want to be McLovin? Sure he got to fire off guns with the cops and got to finally touch a girl in the end. But, let’s not forget that for most of the movie McLovin was a whiny, vest-wearing dork. You really want to consistently identify with that guy?
3 “You sound like you’re from London!” Paul Rudd, Forgetting Sarah Marshall
This one’s not quoted THAT often. But since it’s usually accompanied by a really poor impersonation of a British accent, it elicits more awkward cringes than laughs. Just because Paul Rudd made it funny doesn’t mean people want to hear your best Simon Cowell impression.
4 “Shake and bake!” Will Ferrell and John C. Reily, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
This one is usually performed by duos out at bars oftentimes following a sunk beer pong shot which usually makes it twice as douchey. Quadruple the points if the offending parties follow it up with some sort of synchronized hand motion. Most people like their sports celebrations to be spur-of-the-moment and unique. This is neither. Let it go guys, let it go.
5 “60% of the time, it works every time.” Paul Rudd, Anchorman
Sure, everyone’s wanted a bottle of Sex Panther for their own collection. But as we’ve found, there’s not really that many conversations where this phrase fits in appropriately. Using this line to explain how effective something is more than likely to evoke feelings of confusion than actual laughter. And every so often, you may find yourself having to explain this line to someone that has never seen the film. If that’s the case, good luck in making it sound funny.
6 Referring to San Diego as “San Diago, which in German mean’s a whale’s vagina” Will Ferrell, Anchorman
Yup, Anchorman made the list twice. The problem with a comedic masterpiece like Anchorman is that it’s brilliance begs multiple viewings. And with multiple viewings, people are bound to latch onto more than one outstanding punchline. That being said, this particular quote is a repeat offender of the highest degree. Look, it’s a funny line. It really is. But literally everyone knows that San Diego does not mean whale’s vagina and a decent amount of people have seen Anchorman as well. This just leads to a whole lot of people thinking you’re not funny.
7 “Niiiice!” “I like-a you!” Sasha Baron-Cohen, Borat
Borat’s been funny for years, but the one disadvantage to having such a hit movie on your hand is that everyone starts doing the Borat voice. In inappropriate places. Barbers, grocery store employees, you name it and they’ve probably made an attempt at a Borat impression that would make the man himself blush. It’s probably safe to say that any quote that necessitates an accent needs to die a very public death.
8 “You’re my boy Blue!” Will Ferrell, Old School
It was a sad moment to see the beloved Blue buried to rest in the movie Old School. But since, chances are, you don’t have any friends named Blue, this line doesn’t really fit into casual conversation. Since everyone has seen Old School, and friends are generally nice to one another, you may still get a few laughs out of this one if timed correctly. But make no mistake. Those are cheap laughs brought on not by your own sense of humor, but the memory of Will Ferrell cradling his elderly friend.
9 “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while you could miss it. ” Matthew Broderick, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Ah the granddaddy of them all. Usually quotes from comedies stop being cool after 3 years which makes the fact that people have been quoting this line for over 20 years, is uncanny. It resides on Facebook, high school yearbooks, and under countless “Best Quotes” lists. It’s no longer quirky or cute to make this line one’s personal philosophy summed up. It’s had a wonderful and long run, but it’s time to put ol’ Yeller out to pasture.
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