From the films of Laurel & Hardy to modern day hits like Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, two friends overcoming obstacles while being forced to contend with one other has proven to be a resilient comedic formula. Emerging from early vaudeville ‘double acts’ featuring the uneven pairing of a straight man and a funny man, buddy films have become some of Hollywood’s most enduring hits. Over the years, the friends-on-a-mission trope has proven to be rich terrain for comedic experimentation and innovation, as epitomized by films like The Blues Brothers, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, and Hot Fuzz. 
 
Archive Highlights
Archive Highlight | Ghostbusters

This video features exclusive interviews with Danny DeVito, Paul Feig, David Cross, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Judd Apatow, Mike Myers, Cheech Marin, Jason Segel, Billy Crystal, and Peter Tolan.