Friends with Kids (2012)

Writer-director-star Jennifer Westfeldt and best friend Adam Scott make a baby and a romantic comedy behind a false premise — having kids without marriage is easier. Bullshit. No one wants children without a partner. Other than that, it’s pretty funny.

d: Jennifer Westfeldt | imdb.com | trailer

Bridesmaids (2011)

Kristen Wiig, a comedy virtuoso on “Saturday Night Live” for years, writes and stars in a vehicle tailored to her subtle talents, the story of a maid of honor for whom everything goes wrong. It isn’t just a great comedy featuring women. It’s a great comedy.

d: Paul Feig | imdb.com | trailer | First class | About last night

MacGruber (2010)

The “Saturday Night Live” sketch isn’t funny, but it is mercifully short, and the hero dies. The movie is 99 minutes, and sadly, Will Forte’s bumbling version of 1980s television icon “MacGyver” lives — for corny sexual innuendo and misguided machismo.

d: Jorma Taccone | imdb.com | trailer | Coffee shop

Date Night (2010)

Excellent on television, Steve Carrell and Tina Fey are smarter than this action-comedy, which is, not ironically, standard date night material. The outtakes are the best part, a hint of what might have been had the pair been allowed to improvise the whole film.

d: Shawn Levy | imdb.com | trailer

Whip It (2009)

First-time director Drew Barrymore knows how to have a good time — roller derby, trash talk and food fights. Ellen Page (in a Stryper T-shirt) delivers the pathos as a 17-year-old at odds with her mom. Kristen Wiig and Juliette Lewis are great in supporting turns.

d: Drew Barrymore | imdb.com | trailer | Being judged | Food fight

Extract (2009)

Mike Judge (“Office Space”) captures more mundane workplace moments, but there isn’t enough smart satire to sustain the film. Jason Bateman owns an extract flavoring company and resides in a sexless marriage (to Kristen Wiig). Ben Affleck plays his druggie pal.

d: Mike Judge | imdb.com | trailer | Brad Chavez | Stupid Brad
“Film Forum with Beavis and Butthead”

Adventureland (2009)

Recent college graduate Jesse Eisenberg falls in love with Kristen Stewart and smokes pot with the other dead-end kids at an amusement park in 1987. Eisenberg and Stewart are so natural together, and the film never plays the period for broad laughs.

d: Greg Mottola | imdb.com | trailer | Hired | Date with Lisa P.