Don't Laugh! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Death Becomes Her

"Death Becomes Her" (1992) told the story of Madeline Ashton (Streep), who was a film and theatre star. She stole Ernest Menville (Willis) from her friend, Helen Sharp (Hawn). Helen then had a mental breakdown. However, she went to a woman for help to get her life back in order.

This woman had developed a potion which would make someone live forever and stay looking young, as long as they looked after themselves. Madeline also took the potion as she feared aging. Ernest, who began having an affair with his ex, Helen, was stuck in the middle of the two undead women.

He had to repair their bodies from the wounds they had inflicted on each other as they fought. This film is full of humour, but also some hard to watch bits when bones are breaking and shattering.

Answer: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

This film was adapted from the novel published in 1962 (of the same title) written by Ken Kesey. In 1975 the film adaptation, directed by Milos Forman, was released with Jack Nicholson in the lead role, playing character R. P. McMurphy. Nicholson played a prisoner who tried to escape prison work by faking madness and as a result was actually sent to an insane asylum.

His antics and interactions with the real patients and the staff gave the audience a laugh and lifted the mood of what was a serious and sad subject.

Answer: Pulp Fiction

"Pulp Fiction" (1994) was directed by Quentin Tarantino and followed the lives of criminals, bandits, gangsters and mobsters in a collection of stories which interlaced. The star studded cast included John Travolta as Vincent Vega, Uma Thurman as Mia Wallace, Samuel L. Jackson as Jules Winnfield, and Bruce Willis as Butch Coolidge. Of course, if I had to pick one scene which I always laugh at, it would be the twist competition that Vega and Wallace were in. That was classic cinema.

Answer: A Fish Called Wanda

This film was released in 1988 and followed the plotting, deception and backstabbing of the four main characters: Archie Leach (John Cleese), Wanda Gershwitz (Jamie Lee Curtis), Otto (Kevin Kline), and Ken Pile (Michael Palin). A diamond robbery planned together was their initial intention, but where is the comedy in that? So, of course, they all started double-crossing each other, leading to some sticky (but funny) situations.

Answer: Little Miss Sunshine

"Little Miss Sunshine" (2006) followed a family's journey to a beauty pageant (the Little Miss Sunshine pageant) which their young daughter, Olive (played by Abigail Breslin), was taking part in. The journey had a lot of comedic scenes, including the talent routine Olive performed at the pageant, which her grandpa, Edwin (Alan Arkin), taught her.

However, the film also dealt with a lot of sensitive issues, but in such a way as to make the audience smile. For example, Grandpa sadly died on the way to the pageant and Sheryl's (Toni Collette) brother, Frank (Steve Carell), stayed with the family because he had just been released from hospital after a suicide attempt.

These sensitive subjects were effectively dealt with in a light hearted way. Greg Kinnear played Dad, Richard, and Paul Dano played moody teenage son, Dwayne.

Answer: Gremlins

"Gremlins" (1984) (presented by Steven Spielberg and directed by Joe Dante) was the story of a furry little pet called Gizmo, who was given to Billy (played by Zach Galligan). He was told to follow three vital rules: firstly, avoid bright lights; secondly, never give it water or get it wet; and thirdly, never feed it after midnight! Well, of course, these rules were broken and more and more gremlins started taking over the town of Kingston Falls.

Answer: Shaun of the Dead

In this black comedy from 2004, Shaun (played by Simon Pegg) started to notice that the people in his neighbourhood had started to act a little strange and also looked a little different. They had turned into zombies and he and his friends embarked on a hilarious fight to stay alive and escape the terror. "Shaun of the Dead" (2004) was written by Simon Pegg and had a star studded British cast, including Lucy Davis as Dianne and Dylan Moran as David.

Answer: Grosse Pointe Blank

"Grosse Pointe Blank" (1997) followed assassin Martin Blank (played by John Cusack) to Grosse Pointe in Detroit as he went on a hit. His 10 year school reunion was also taking place when he was there. However, Blank was beginning to get a conscience about what he did for a living and with a lot of people after him there were a lot funny moments, and fast action.

Answer: So I Married an Axe Murderer

"So I Married an Axe Murderer" (1993) is one of my all time favourite films. Charlie (Mike Myers) had been unlucky in love, dumping girlfriends because he was too picky and suspicious. When he met Harriet (Nancy Travis) he decided to make a go of it despite his worries that she was an axe murderer.

When they got married, Charlie found himself in a sticky situation on his honeymoon, but was it his new wife or someone else?

Answer: Team America: World Police

"Team America: World Police" (2004) had the audience laughing at terrorism, sexually transmitted diseases and many other taboo subjects. The characters were puppets and it was written by Trey Parker (also the director) and Matt Stone. It followed a group of people (puppets) who were chosen to defend the world against terrorism.

It was very funny and cleverly written, although it was easy to see why some people could have become offended. However, coming from the creators of the popular (yet also in the black comedy genre) "South Park" (1997), it should have been obvious to viewers what kind of film they were in store for.