Harrison Ford has played action heroes and daring adventurers throughout his career, but he is also an underrated comedic actor. Anyone who has seen Ford’s interviews and press junkets knows that he has a dry sense of humor, but he often hides this side of himself in his movies. Many of his action thrillers showcase his skills as a dramatic actor without letting him show off his considerable comedy chops.
Harrison Ford’s best moviestend to show both sides to his talents as an actor. He is most famous for playing Han Solo and Indiana Jones, and these characters have a lot of humor, even when they are facing mortal danger. Ford is able to get plenty of laughs in any genre, but it’s not too often that he stars in an out-and-out comedy. His funniest roles suggest that he should do so more often.
Captain America 4: Why Harrison Ford Was the Best Possible Choice For Red Hulk
Here at Screen Rant, we can’t think of a better actor to finally bring the Red Hulk to life in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Harrison Ford has been a licensed pilot for years, and his role inSix Days, Seven Nightslets him play an aviator on-screen. His character gets stranded on a deserted island with a feisty reporter played by Anne Heche. Their odd couple dynamic pushes each of them to their limits as they band together to survive until help arrives. Predictably, they fall in love, but Heche and Ford’s enjoyable dynamic means that it’s easy to forgive the familiar plot.
Heche and Ford’s enjoyable dynamic means that it’s easy to forgive the familiar plot.
Six Days, Seven Nightswas steered by veteran comedy director Ivan Reitman. It doesn’t have the same impact as some of Reitman’s true classics, such asGhostbustersandDave, but he is a capable pair of hands nonetheless. Although the premise is fairly predictable, and the narrative sometimes lacks a little dynamism, with the two main characters forced to sit and endure each other’s company, Heche and Ford make it worthwhile.
9The Frisco Kid (1979)
Gene Wilder And Harrison Ford Star In A Western Comedy
The Frisco Kidisn’t quite up there withGene Wilder’s best movies, and its biggest sin may be that it evokes the much funnier comedy-WesternBlazing Saddles, which was released five years earlier. For all its faults, it’s still an enjoyable fish-out-of-water comedy that points a few barbs at the Western genre.The most enjoyable element of the story is Wilder’s dynamic with Harrison Ford.
Ford appears to have fun as a rough-hewn gunslinger, and he has plenty of funny moments when he plays it straight.
Ford plays the straight man to Wilder’s whining rabbi. In the comedy-Western, he knows that it’s his job to provide some Western credentials. He doesn’t get most of the laughs himself, but his willingness to play second fiddle is admirable. Ford appears to have fun as a rough-hewn gunslinger, and he has plenty of funny moments when he plays it straight without trying to wink to the audience.
Like most comedy sequels,Anchorman 2: The Legend Continuesstruggles to recapture the magic of its predecessor. Still, there are plenty of hilarious moments, with Will Ferrell and his supporting cast able to make the most out of a lackluster script. One of the highlights features Harrison Ford as a legendary news anchor. He’s a great fit for the role, as he has the gravitas and seriousness required to make Ron Burgundy look like a joke.
Ford is believable as a revered icon of news broadcasting, but his character is just weird enough to be interesting.
Some of thefunniest scenes in theAnchormanmoviesfeature memorable cameos.The street fights in both movies are a great example, with the likes of Jim Carrey, Ben Stiller, Will Smith and Tina Fey wading into the action. Ford gets his own scene with Ron Burgundy, which makes his role a little meatier than these other blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameos. He is believable as a revered icon of news broadcasting, but his character is just weird enough to be interesting.
7Sabrina (1995)
Harrison Ford Takes On A Humphrey Bogart Role In This Remake
1954’sSabrinastars Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn, and their combined star power makes the romcom a delightful treat for fans of the genre. It wasn’t exactly crying out for a remake, since the original is still so enjoyable, but Harrison Ford delivers a charming performance alongside Julia Ormond and Greg Kinnear. Ford plays a workaholic who finds himself falling in love for the first time.
Sabrinasuffers when it’s compared to the original with Bogart and Hepburn, but it’s an entertaining romcom when viewed on its own merits.
Sabrinasuffers when it’s compared to the original with Bogart and Hepburn, but it’s an entertaining romcom when viewed on its own merits. Ford has the skills to sell his character’s transformation from a callous, cunning operator to a lovestruck fool, and he has funny moments all along the way.His dynamic with Greg Kinnear is particularly funny, as Kinnear plays his fun-loving playboy brother.
6Morning Glory (2010)
Harrison Ford Puts His Lovable Grump Persona To Good Use
Long after his glory years as an action hero, Harrison Ford has found success more recently by playing elder statesman-types. He’s done this in dramatic movies like42andCowboys and Aliens, butMorning Glorymakes the best use of Ford’s new rough and rugged persona by having him play a self-serious grump who isn’t afraid to ruin everyone’s day.He is the perfect comedic foil to Rachel McAdams' bubbly optimism.
McAdams and Keaton both have a lot more experience in traditional comedic roles than Ford does, but he fits in with the cast like a natural.
Morning Glorystars Ford as a veteran journalist who feels bitter over the fact that his current post at a morning show refuses to cover the hard-hitting topics he desires. Matters are complicated by his fiery working relationship with his co-host, played by Diane Keaton. McAdams and Keaton both have a lot more experience in traditional comedic roles than Ford does, but he fits in with the cast like a natural.
The 1990s and2000s were good times for buddy cop comedies, with movies likeRush Hour, Men in BlackandHot Fuzzall putting fresh twists on the established formula.Hollywood Homicideis a little less inventive than these classics, preferring to stick to the genre’s tropes in search of laughs. Harrison Ford plays the serious, uptight veteran detective, while Josh Hartnett plays a wildcard rookie.
Ford and Hartnett’s dynamic is nothing new in the buddy cop genre, but they are still great to watch.
Ford and Hartnett’s dynamic is nothing new in the buddy cop genre, but they are still great to watch. Ford masters the art of comedic rage as the older cop, and Harkness plays off him superbly.Hollywood Homicidealso gives Ford a few hilarious slapstick moments, like when he has to pursue a suspect through heavy traffic on a child’s bicycle. It isn’t a particularly creative approach to the genre, but not many actors are as entertaining as Ford.
Harrison Ford is key to some of thefunniest moments in theStar Warsmovies, but he worked with George Lucas four years beforeA New HopeinAmerican Graffiti.The coming-of-age comedy-drama is Lucas' way of reflecting back on his own carefree youth, as it follows a group of teenagers and their adventures throughout a warm night in California.Ford plays a brash street racer angling for a shot at the local champion.
He’s funny as Bob Falfa cruising around town trying to make a name for himself, and also after his traumatic crash when he’s gingerly holding his arm and trying not to cry.
Harrison Ford is a supporting player inAmerican Graffiti,and his role as an antagonist means that he doesn’t get most of the funny lines. Still, he does a lot with his character. He’s funny as Bob Falfa cruising around town trying to make a name for himself, and also after his traumatic crash when he’s gingerly holding his arm and trying not to cry. In both instances, Bob highlights what the film is about: a group of teenagers believing that they are more grown-up than they really are.
Working Girlcould well be Harrison Ford’s funniest movie of all, thanks to a great cast that also features Sigourney Weaver, Melanie Griffith and Alec Baldwin.It was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture.The story follows a cunning secretary who steps in for her boss while she is laid up with a broken leg. Ford plays a business associate who develops feelings for her, although he is also taken in by her deception.
Working Girlcould well be Harrison Ford’s funniest movie of all.
Jack Trainer is an interesting character for Ford. He’s charming and more respectful than most of the other men clogging up Manhattan boardrooms inWorking Girl,and he represents a different way of doing business. Ford plays him with the perfect blend of impish charm and natural authority. He is everything Tess aspires to, both as a business partner and a romantic partner.
Harrison Ford’s casting represented a coup forShrinking,and he is in fine form in the Apple TV comedy-drama. Ford hasn’t appeared in many TV shows since hitting it big as a movie star, but his starring role in theYellowstonespinoff1923andShrinkinghave both received glowing reviews.Shrinkingfollows a group of therapists with wildly different approaches to their work.
Shrinkingis a great comedy for the modern age, as therapy is being talked about more openly than ever before.
WithShrinkingseason 2coming to Apple TV in October, it’s a good time to catch up on the Emmy-nominated first season. Jason Segel, who is also one of the show’s creators, along withScrubscreator Bill Lawrence andTed Lassostar Brett Goldstein, is fantastic in the lead role. Ford’s character often acts as his moral compass, although it’s clear that he doesn’t have everything figured out either.Shrinkingis a great comedy for the modern age, as therapy is being talked about more openly than ever before.
AlthoughIndiana Jones and the Last Crusadeisn’t a true comedy, it does produce one of Harrison Ford’s funniest performances.He always has a few wisecracks as Indy, and Steven Spielberg’s eye for spectacular adventure also lets Ford show off his flair for physical comedy. Whether he’s falling into a pit of snakes or fighting a big bruiser next to a biplane, Ford can get a laugh with his facial expressions.The Last Crusadeis the funniest movie in theIndiana Jonesfranchise.
What makesThe Last Crusadeeven funnier thanRaiders of the Lost Arkis Indy’s hilarious dynamic with his estranged father, played by Sean Connery in fine form.
What makesThe Last Crusadeeven funnier thanRaiders of the Lost Arkis Indy’s hilarious dynamic with his estranged father, played by Sean Connery in fine form. The daring adventurer regresses to a childlike state of perpetual frustration and angst, even if he tries to play it cool in front of his friends and enemies. Connery and Ford develop great comedic banter with one another, as Connery plays the role of an embarrassing father to perfection.
