Martin Short Picks Comedy Films That Nail Timeless Humour
Martin Short shares his thoughts on which classic comedies have managed to stay fresh and funny over the years, singling out Young Frankenstein and Annie Hall for their enduring wit.
Comedians rarely get a breather, given how quickly what makes us laugh can shift. Martin Short, who’s spent decades in the thick of it, knows this better than most. He’s managed to keep up with changing tastes, from his early days in the 1980s and ‘90s to his more recent turn as the hapless ex-theatre bloke in the hit series Only Murders in the Building, alongside Steve Martin and Selena Gomez. That knack for staying relevant is no small feat in a world where what’s funny today might be old hat tomorrow.
It’s not always easy to pick which comedies will still get a laugh years down the track. Short’s own films, like Captain Ron and Three Amigos, didn’t exactly set the world on fire when they first came out, but over time, they’ve found their crowd. Even Clifford, which copped a hammering from Roger Ebert, has ended up with a bit of a cult following for being so offbeat it’s good.
Comedy That Stands the Test of Time
Chatting about his career, Short pointed out,
“tastes change through the years”
but reckons a handful of comedies will always hit the mark.
“I just think it’s always interesting, particularly with comedy, what ages well and what doesn’t,”
he said.
“I mean, I can still look at Young Frankenstein, and I think it’s literally perfection, and I feel that about Annie Hall. There are certain films that just have never been altered by time, and some have become less funny with time, and some become funnier.”
Short’s pick of Young Frankenstein is a cracker. It’s not just the musical adaptation that’s kept it in the spotlight—Mel Brooks’ send-ups have only grown sharper with age. This one, though, is a real love letter to the old Universal monster flicks, and it’s inspired plenty of copycats. These days, it’s not a stretch to put it up there with the likes of Frankenstein or The Bride of Frankenstein.
Legacy and Controversy in Classic Comedy
Annie Hall is a trickier one. It’s shaped just about every romantic comedy that’s come since, but it’s hard for some punters to separate the film from the bloke behind it, Woody Allen. He’s been pretty much blacklisted in Hollywood, but the fact remains he made a stack of films that are now seen as classics. It’s a tough conversation, but the film’s place in the canon is hard to ignore, especially with Diane Keaton’s standout performance—her passing in 2025 only adds to the film’s legacy.
Short doesn’t make a song and dance about his own work, but he’s had his fair share of roles in comedies that have stuck around. Father of the Bride is a family favourite, and his part in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice has finally started to get the recognition it deserves, even if the film itself split opinions when it landed.