Most of our picks in this category aren’t what most people call “pure” comedies. Does this say anything other than pointing out what everyone knows about what “pure” comedies have been like in recent years? They’ve been, mostly, pure crap. Nonetheless, there’s nothing better than getting a bit more than your regular dose of laughs while watching a movie—be that a murder mystery or a trip through the unfathomable multiverse.

Here are our picks for the Top 5 Leading Comedy Movie Performances in 2022.

– Dylan Blight

5.) Janelle Monáe

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

To say why Janelle Monáe deserves to be on this list would be a spoiler—her being on this list may be considered a spoiler—but it’s one worth risking to give her the praise she deserves. Playing Helen Brand, Monáe is great as the outcast of the group of friends who have come to Miles Bron’s island. But when the other shoe drops, her performance goes to the next level, and you’ll quickly realise why she belongs here.

– Ashley Hobley

4.) Nicolas Cage

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

It’s a particular skill to play oneself with the right amount of seriousness to carry a dramatic role while also being able to laugh at yourself. That’s what Nicolas Cage pulls off in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent as Cage riffs on real-life turmoil, the wacky persona he’s been painted with in the media, and the recent run of indie releases that’s sparked a career resurgence. He is “niiiiiiccckkkkkkkkk.”

– Dylan Blight

3.) Daniel Craig

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Returning as Benoit Blanc, it feels like Daniel Craig has more opportunity to shine here than in Knives Out. While the central figure in Knives Out was predominantly Ana de Armas’s Marta, here Blanc takes the spotlight as our entry point into the world of Miles Bron. Craig makes Blanc a perfect fit for the film’s sillier tone, with very funny moments that are just as memorable as the reveals of his deductions. We can’t wait to see Craig return to the role again.

– Ashley Hobley

2.) Pedro Pascal

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

Pedro Pascal co-starred in two comedies in 2022, and while one—The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent—was fantastic, the other, The Bubble, was one of the most disappointing things I watched all year. Pascal, however, was excellent in both thanks to his commitment to character and willingness to have fun at his own expense. In The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, he proves he’s a natural at comedy, forming a true buddy-comedy duo with Nicolas Cage and delivering one of the year’s most hilarious chase sequences.

– Dylan Blight

1.) Michelle Yeoh

Everything Everywhere All at Once

The performance of Michelle Yeoh’s illustrious career. The Daniels have given her the opportunity with this role to show a little of everything she’s capable of, and she takes it with both hands. From the dramatic moments—dealing with a husband seeking a divorce and a daughter who feels unloved—to incredible comedy beats like an alternate universe where everyone has hot-dog fingers. Plus, she reminds everyone how kick-ass she is with some awesome fight sequences. This movie would not have worked without Michelle Yeoh’s fantastic central performance, and we’re incredibly grateful for it.

– Ashley Hobley

Dylan Blight and Ashley Hobley compiled this Top 5 list. The movies nominated must have had a theatrical release in a cinema, VOD or on a streaming platform between December 27th 2021 – December 27th 2022.

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