After suffering a heart attack nine months ago, Mr. Sen was advised to get more rest and he began indulging more frequently in a favored activity, watching funny movies and late-night television, Mr. Suman said.

WSJ: Subway Pushing Attack Suspect Sought

Ebert began his career at the Chicago Sun-Times, where he spent the next five decades penning biting, often funny reviews for movies.

BBC: Film critic Roger Ebert funeral held in Chicago

The former leader of The Funky Bunch, Wahlberg has shown his funny side in movies like the recent Date Night and I Heart Huckabees.

FORBES: A Much Needed Hit for Will Ferrell

That's why, according to Walt Disney studio chairman Dick Cook, it's unusual for a studio to make a big investment in movies that are supposed to be funny.

NPR: 'Evan Almighty' Is Most Expensive Comedy

This updated version of the Ira Levin novel, first adapted for the movies (drearily) in 1975, is bright and funny for about an hour.

NEWYORKER: The Stepford Wives

And it's really funny, that's another thing about the Mexican monster wrestler movies--is that whether a monster is centuries old or whether he is even not of this Earth, they all manage to know all of the latest wrestling moves.

NPR: The Masked Men of Mexican Movies

People always have turned to movies during hard times, Basinger said, but it's oversimplifying to say light or funny narratives will succeed in a recession and serious subject matter won't.

CNN: Will the recession change movies?