It’s a sad fact that women can work just as hard on a movie as males do and still still receive a fraction of the credit. Women directors have long been grossly under-appreciated due to this contradiction and the widespread belief that audiences automatically assume a guy directed their favourite film. People don’t forget their favourite films, but they do forget that the directors of those films were female. Here are some fantastic comedies that you may not know were made by women directors.
1. Shrek (2001)
Director- Vicky Jenson (along with Andrew Adamson)
A green ogre named Shrek learns that the cunning Lord Farquaad has “swamped” his swamp with a variety of fairytale creatures. Determined to “persuade” Farquaad to return his swamp to Shrek, Shrek sets out with a very loud donkey by his side. A contract is instead forged. Princess Fiona is hiding out in a tower being protected by a fire-breathing dragon. While Farquaad, who wants to become the King, sends Shrek to save her. The ugly ogre Shrek, however, starts to fall in love with the beautiful princess when they return with Fiona. It soon becomes clear that Fiona is also keeping a big secret.
2. Mamma Mia! (2008)
Director- Phyllida Lloyd
Twenty-year-old Sophie Sheridan resides on a beautiful Greek island with her mother Donna Sheridan. She is getting married soon and wants nothing more than for her father to give her away and escort her down the aisle. Sophie doesn’t know who her father is, which is the only issue. Also, when her mother won’t talk to her about it. She invites three guys who might be that man after discovering her mother’s diary from the year she was born. Sophie is certain that she would recognise her father the moment she sees him. But she quickly comes to the realisation that she has no idea. There is mayhem as her mother is annoyed and perplexed by the men’s presence. They all believe they are the father, and her fiancé becomes frustrated by the situation.
3. Doctor Dolittle (1998)
Director- Betty Thomas
Dr. John Dolittle has everything going for him. A stunning wife by his side, two wonderful girls, and a career that is going perfectly. One night, he almost runs a puppy over with his car. “Bonehead!” the dog cries before running away. His capacity to talk to animals, which he had as a child, has since returned. The bad news is that Dolittle’s talent is getting around quickly. Soon, a large number of animals—from rats to horses—flock to his location to seek medical guidance. However, his coworkers believe he is insane. Also, because the clinic where Dolittle used to work is about to be taken over for a substantial sum of money, many decisions must be made. In addition, his family is on the verge of disintegrating, till a circus tiger gets very sick.
4. The Kids Are Alright (2010)
Director- Lisa Cholodenko
The mothers of fifteen-year-old Laser and eighteen-year-old Joni Mitchell, who were created by artificial insemination, are the lesbians Jules and Nicole “Nic” of Los Angeles. Both children were conceived by the same sperm donor. Joni has enrolled in college, Jules is a housewife who recently established a gardening business but is not supported by Nic and has no customers, Laser is a high school student, and Nic is a doctor. When Joni suddenly resolves to look for her biological father, she comes upon Paul, a successful businessman who owns a restaurant and a non-transgenic plantation.
Following their initial meeting, they invite Paul to dine with their family, and Paul then engages Jules to redesign his backyard. Paul develops friendships with Joni and Laser and develops feelings for Jules. He develops feelings for her, but Jules continues to love Nic. Nic, meanwhile, is envious of Paul and thinks that she is losing control over the kids.
5. Jennifer’s Body (2009)
Director- Karyn Kusama
Teenager Needy Kesnicki from Devil’s Kettle, Minnesota, is a bashful student who looks up to her cocky cheerleader buddy Jennifer Check. They go to see the rock group Low Shoulder perform at a pub, and the band leader learns that Jennifer is a virgin. The band kidnaps Jennifer in their van after the building is set on fire. Later, she shows up at Needy’s house covered in blood, acting strangely, and spitting up a dark liquid. Numerous students who were killed and had pieces of their bodies eaten are discovered over the following few days. Needy learns that the band members sacrificed Jennifer in a dark magic ceremony. But since Jennifer wasn’t virgin, something went wrong, and she turned into a succubus who ate flesh. Needy makes an effort to keep Jennifer and her boyfriend Chip apart.
6. Big (1988)
Director- Penny Marshall
Josh Baskin, a regular 12-year-old child who is tired of being bullied, believes that if he were an adult, all of his troubles would go away. Then, as if by magic, Josh receives assistance from the enigmatic fortune-teller device Zoltar, and suddenly, the following morning, he awakens in the body of a thirty-year-old version of himself. Josh’s wish was finally granted, beyond his wildest dreams, but it appears that adulthood is not without its challenges. As the advantages of childhood gradually disappear, the new Josh will now need to seek for a job and, more importantly, keep his astonishing secret a secret.
7. Austenland (2013)
Director- Jerusha Hess (along with Jared Hess)
In Colin Firth’s portrayal of Mr. Darcy in the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice, Jane Hayes, a single 30-year-old lady with a secret, is the subject of the romantic comedy Austenland. No actual man can compare to her fixation with Mr. Darcy, which is wrecking her love life. Jane’s visions of meeting the ideal Regency-era gentleman, however, suddenly become more true than she could have ever dreamed when she chooses to spend her life savings on a trip to an English resort catered to Austen-crazed women.
8. Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
Director- Gurinder Chadha
Football is the only thing in Jess Bhamra’s life that she truly loves. She imagines herself as a successful soccer player, and David Beckham is her idol. As soon as she does, she befriends Juliette Paxton, or Jules to her friends, and she joins a girls’ team led by the fairly attractive Joe. She is a member of a traditional, loving, and close-knit Sikh family. Although Jess’ obsession with sports doesn’t fit into her parents’ ideal of a young woman’s future, her parents just want the best for both of their daughters. When they both develop an ardent interest in Joe, Jess and Jules argue because she doesn’t feel comfortable moving in the shadows. Jess must choose between supporting her family and her friends because her sister’s wedding is the same day as the football championship, where a US College scout will be in attendance to evaluate her performance.
9. The Diary Of A Teenage Girl (2015)
Director- Marielle Heller
In 1970s San Francisco, Minnie, a young teen artist, starts an affair with the man who is dating her mother. When Minnie learned that she was gorgeous and that she enjoyed having sex, her self-image improved. Sometimes influenced by drugs, her creative imagination frequently interferes with reality. In this sexually explicit tale, a young girl is coming-of- age and realising her gender for the first time.
10. Frozen (2013)
Director- Jennifer Lee (along with Chris Buck)
Princess Elsa of Arendelle and her younger sister, Anna, who were formerly great friends, are becoming increasingly estranged from one another as a result of an unintentional error. In an effort to control her growing gift—or curse—Elsa, the strong conjurer of snow and ice, has isolated herself from the kingdom. However, clashing emotions and repressed sentiments pose a threat to the enchanted land, which could result in an endless winter. Now, Anna must work fearlessly with a group of unusual allies to save the day, including the kind but clumsy Sámi ice-harvester Kristoff, his dependable reindeer companion Sven, and the jovial animated snowman Olaf.
