Obviously, what with the world ending and everything, you have more pressing issues to attend to in 2012. You’ll have bunkers to build, butter to ration, loved ones to deem irrelevant. In fact, most of us have planned our post-apocalyptic lives so precisely that if by any chance the Mayan 2012 prophecy is a load of bollocks, we’ll all be a bit disappointed. All that meticulous planning gone to waste. But never fear, for BFF has the cream of next year’s comedy crop to fill that empty schedule.

# 20 – American Reunion

Remember American Pie? Of course you do, because neither Eugene Levy nor the band of writers he is apparently holding hostage will let you forget. If you’ve been anywhere near a clearance bin in any DVD store in the last six years, you’ll know that American Pie’s legacy did not die when the main characters grew up and stopped mistaking pies for vaginas. First we had Stifler’s brother Matt taking the reins for Band Camp, Beta House and The Naked Mile. Then we had a group of friends who went to the same school as Matt Stifler for the Book of Love. Now, apparently, we’re reuniting the original cast of Sean William Scott, Jason Biggs, Allison Hannigan et al, presumably because none of them have anything better to do.

# 19 – One for the Money

Katherine Heigl, in a movie. We kind of know how that usually works out, don’t we?

# 18 – Three Men and a Bride

If 2012 doesn’t become synonymous with total global annihilation, its defining trend will undoubtedly be the threequel. Three Men and a Bride will reunite the three oldest, sexiest bastards in cinema, with Ted Danson (swoon), Tom Selleck (MOUSTACHE SWOON) and Steve Gutenberg (ok, not so much) for Mary’s wedding.

# 17 – Marvin the Martian

You all remember Marvin the Martian, right? He was the alien in Looney Tunes? He always kind of a background character and I think his main arc had something to do with taking over the world. The only thing that this really tells us is that Warner Bros is well and truly out of ideas. The movie is set to be part live-action and part CGI.
Things That Would Be Better Then This: A Pinky and the Brain movie. Somebody, make that happen.

# 16 – Knights of Badassdom

The 2008 comedy Role Models did a hilarious set piece homaging LARP (that’s Live Action Role Play) when Christopher Mintz-Plasse, a LARP enthusiast, inducted his pals Paul Rudd and Sean William Scott to defend his imaginary territory against the equally brilliant Ken Jeong. The Knights of Badassdom is basically that, but without all the talent and KISS references. In their stead, we get Steve Zahn being his adorable self, Summer Glau as every nerds dream and some vague memories of 2009’s Jennifer’s Body.

# 15 – Hotel Transylvania

What do Adam Sandler, Kevin James and David Spade all have in common? A lot, really. They’re three of the most universally reviled actors in comedy, and they’re all in Hotel Transylvania. The movie focuses on a group of outdated monsters who have no place in the modern world, and so hide out in an abandoned hotel. We’re sure the obvious irony will eventually strike someone.

# 14 – The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

A remake of the 1947 movie of the same name, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is set to be Ben Stiller’s next big project, which he is set to both direct and star in. The film focuses on Walter Mitty, a man who is forced to retreat into a delusional life as a result of his overbearing mother, but soon finds himself at the centre of a real-life conspiracy. We’re hoping for all the naivety of Zoolander coupled with the snowballing madness of The Cable Guy.

# 13 – Frankenweenie

Just when we thought that Tim Burton couldn’t submerge himself any deeper into his own anus, he goes and remakes one of his OWN movies. Frankenweenie, one of Burton’s first features, was a short commissioned by Disney that centres on a boy who brings his dead dog back to life. This animated version is set to star the voices of Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara and Tom Kenny. That’s Tom Kenny of the voice of Spongebob Squarepants fame.

If anyone can think of a more unnecessary vanity project, do let us know.

# 12 – Madagascar 3

The first Madagascar movie was a bit of a chuckle. There were lemurs, there was David Schwimmer at his most perfectly anthropomorphised as a hypochondriac giraffe, and for the first time since 1994, I Like to Move It was being hummed in the hallways. Madagascar 2 was better still: with even more Sacha Baron Cohen as lemur King Julian, the franchise had really begun to hit its stride. Hence, Madagascar 3 could be the winning threequel of the year. This one takes place when Alex, Marty, Gloria and Melman attempt to get home to New York by joining the circus.

# 11 – Movie 43

This movie could easily be the best or worst comedy of next year: frankly, I’m unsure of what side to take. Movie 43 is set to have no less then eleven directors, each contributing their own short comedy segment that will make up the body of the film. Contributing directors include Steven Brill (Mighty Ducks), Rusty Cundieff (This is Spinal Tap) and weirdly, Elizabeth Banks (likeable blonde woman).
Movie 43 promises to be the most star-studded event of 2012, including appearances from Kate Winslet, Hugh Jackman, Emma Stone, Uma Thurman, Kieran Culkin, Richard Gere and about a dozen others. There’s no two ways about it: this will be 2012’s biggest wild card.

# 10 – The Three Stooges

Another weird one for the list. Directed by the Farrelly brothers, The Three Stooges seeks to reinvigorate the vaudevillian legends by casting Sean Hayes (Jack of Will & Grace) as Larry, Will Sasso (Family Guy) as Curly and Chris Diamantopoulos (American Dad) as Moe. If casting TV actors as one of the most influential comedy acts in history seems odd, then this is even stranger: the film will also feature Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi and Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino. YES, THEM FROM JERSEY SHORE. Oh lord. We need a lie down.
But hang on: the film also features the wonderful Sofia Vergara (Modern Family) and Larry David in drag. What in the hell is going on here?

# 9 – Brave

While probably not a laugh-out-loud comedy, Brave is Pixar’s latest masterpiece, and will probably be the parents-dragging-their-kids movie of the year. Brave focuses on the Scottish Princess Merida, a ginger with a penchant for archery who accidentally jeopardises her kingdom with her own warrior prowess. The trailer is eye-wateringly gorgeous, and with voice acting from Emma Thompson, Julie Walters and Billy Connolly, be prepared for this one to have a cosy spot next to Up in your DVD collection.

# 8 – 21 Jump Street

If you’ve ever read more than six sentences about Johnny Depp, you’ve heard of 21 Jump Street. 21 Jump Street was an eighties TV show that followed a group of youthful looking undercover agents who specialised in teenage crime. The show sparked Depp’s career and harnessed him with a heartthrob image he has tried ever since to shed. Discarding the feint ridiculousness of this for a moment, we kind of like the idea of this 2012 reboot. Written by Jonah Hill, the film is set to star Channing Tatum, Ice Cube and a very tongue-in-cheek Depp. We also have appearances from Brie Larson, who played the formidably hilarious Envy Adams in last year’s Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World.

While the original Jump Street was primarily a cheesy drama, it did have some nice comedic performances and casual wit that gives us hopes for this remake. Check out the original below.

# 7 – Queens of Country

Queens of Country, a small-town comedy about an ex-beauty queen turned line dancing champion looks like a promising limited-release film that you’ll probably mean to see but then forget to. Starring is Lizzy Caplan (best known for the brilliant Janis Ian in Mean Girls) as the good-hearted beauty that discovers an iPod full of her favourite country songs in a truck stop bathroom. Convinced whoever owns the iPod must be the love of her life, she becomes determined to locate the owner, despite numerous interventions from co-star Ron Livingston (Office Space, Sex and the City). The plot may sound frothy, but the trailer promises a suitably dark comic take on the rural romance. Plus check out the clothes. For the love of God, check out the clothes. I want to wear them to my WEDDING.

# 6 – Men in Black 3

Whether you want to or not, you’re going to end up seeing Men in Black 3. Chances are, you loved the first two more then you care to admit, and you spent most of your adolescence thinking the Fresh Prince of Bel Air was more than a TV show, but a sort of cultural Mecca. I think we’re all old enough to admit that there’s nothing that excites us more then Will Smith going back to his old post- FreshPrince movie days. Screw Seven Pounds and all this ‘acting’ nonsense. We want a sequel to Wild Wild West.

# 5 – Ghostbusters 3

The long-awaited Ghostbusters 3 was a mere twinkle in fans eyes since until almost two years ago, when Sigourney Weaver let it slip to Channel 4 that Ghostbusters 3 was definitely happening. Since then, movie fans have been stalking the Ghostbusters 3 production like nerd lions to a pop-culture zebra.

# 4 – Casa de mi Padre

Do you know how everyone is always giving out to Will Ferrell for being a “one-trick” actor? Well, clearly Ferrell was paying attention, because he’s gone and done a Spanish language comedy with Gael Garcia Bernal. Weird, right? The movie comes from SNL legends Matt Piedmont and Andrew Steele, and focuses on a pair of Mexican brothers who have to settle their father’s debts with Mexico’s most feared drug lord. Apparently Ferrell’s Spanish is flawless, and it’ll be nice to see him doing something that isn’t some variation of Ron Burgundy.

# 3 – The Dictator

Bruno aside, we still have faith in Sacha Baron Cohen as being one of Britains foremost comedic talents. The Dictator finally sees Cohen discarding the mockumentary that led him to international acclaim with Borat. The movie stars Cohen as a totalitarian leader who “who risks his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed”. The film will co-star Jonh C. Reilly and Ben Kingsley. Ben Kingsley, as in Gandhi. Amazing. I’m already sold.

# 2 – Jay and Seth Versus the Apocalypse

Finally, a movie that picks up on the obvious: a horror comedy about the apocalypse. You know, the one that’s happening in 2012 that we spoke about earlier. Written by Seth Rogan, Evan Goldberg (Superbad) and Jason Stone (Wrecked) the film stars Jay Baruchel and Rogan as the eponymous Jay and Seth. This buddy comedy follows the pair as they battle the everyday trials and tribulations that come with the end of the world. With a cast rounded out by Jonah Hill, Danny McBride and Daniel Radcliffe this could be 2012’s Zombieland, managing a perfect crossover between humour and horror.

# 1 – Kick Ass 2: Balls to the Wall

Although details are fairly sparse, every rumour on the internet seems to point toward a Kick Ass sequel in 2012. As per every fans dream, the sequel to the 2010 hit is set to feature the adorable and terrifying Hit Girl as the film’s focal point. As Hit Girl (Chloe Moretz) attempts to shrug off her violent past, she is captured by Russian gangsters hired by Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) in an attempt to avenge his father. If this happens, you can be fairly certain it’ll trump this year’s prolific sequel list and engrave Hit Girl on our hearts forever. Who doesn’t want to see a tiny girl drop the c-bomb all over our screens?

What’s on your must-see list for 2012? Let us know below.