Good comedy movies can lift your spirits after a tough week, and there’s even scientific evidence to suggest a link between laughter with improved health. While I’m no Patch Adams, I do care about the well-being of my readers, so that’s why I’ve put together this list of good comedy movies that might otherwise go unnoticed. A few modern comedy classics are included, but you’ll also find foreign comedies, cult comedies, and even classic comedies.

Groundhog Day (1993) – Phil Connors (Bill Murray) is a misanthropic television weatherman who’s unhappy about having to cover the annual Groundhog Day ceremonies in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. But imagine his surprise when a blizzard strands him in the small town, and Phil suddenly finds himself living the same day over and over. Murray is perfect as the wisecracking jerk who slowly finds redemption, and Andie MacDowell makes a beautiful love interest.

The Princess Bride (1987) – Framed as a fairy tale read by a grandfather (Peter Falk) to his sick grandson (Fred Savage), The Princess Bride tells the story of Westley (Cary Elwes), a farmhand who tries to reunite with his true love, Buttercup (Robin Wright), after being presumed dead. But Buttercup is in the clutches of the wicked Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon), and so Westley must seek help from the massive Fezzik (Andre the Giant) and a Spaniard named Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin). A wonderful comedy for all ages, it also features plenty of romance, fantasy, and action.

Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) – Cary Grant plays Mortimer Brewster, a newlywed who learns that his aunts and brother are completely insane. The two aunts have been poisoning elderly bachelors and burying them in the basement, and Mortimer’s brother is convinced that he’s Teddy Roosevelt. But things get even more complicated for Mortimer when his other brother, Jonathan (Raymond Massey), arrives. As it turns out, Jonathan is completely psychotic, and he’s soon plotting to kill the only stable member of the family. Despite the gruesome nature of the crimes committed, the film is a comedy (and a darn good one at that).

The Perfect Crime (2004) – A black comedy from Spain, The Perfect Crime follows Rafael (Guillermo Toledo), a department store salesman bucking for a promotion. He’s also slept with every woman in his department expect one: the homely Lourdes (Monica Cervera). But when an accident suddenly produces a fresh corpse, Rafael finds himself in debt to Lourdes, and she intends to collect…with a vengeance.

The Big Lebowski (1998) – If you’d like to experience what’s been called “the first cult film of the Internet era,” then be sure to watch this slacker comedy from Joel and Ethan Coen. Jeff Bridges stars as The Dude, a stoner who’s mistaken for a millionaire with the same name and drawn into a web of intrigue. Hardcore fans attend an annual celebration known as Lebowski Fest, and the film is chock-full of quotable dialogue. Also starring John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Sam Elliott.

The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977) – Before Airplane! and the Naked Gun films, writers Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker created this zany sketch comedy film that parodies everything from educational films to kung-fu flicks. The unusual cast includes Bill Bixby, Tony Dow, Donald Sutherland, and George Lazenby. Directed by John Landis, who would later helm successful comedies such as National Lampoon’s Animal House, Trading Places, and Three Amigos.

Hollywood Shuffle (1987) – Robert Townsend directed, produced, co-wrote, and stars in this tale of an actor struggling to make it big in Hollywood. Filled with humorous daydreams and spoofs lampooning the stereotypical roles often given to minorities, the film was paid for with Townsend’s credit cards. A number of future stars make appearances, including Keenan Ivory Wayans and Damon Wayans.

The Kid (1921) – The Tramp (Charlie Chaplin) takes in an abandoned child (Jackie Coogan), cares for him, and teaches him the finer points of being a con-man. But when welfare workers try to separate the duo, the Tramp is willing to do whatever it takes to be reunited. As with most classic comedies from Chaplin, the film mixes laughs with moments of sadness and social commentary. It’s a silent film, by the way, but don’t let that stop you from experiencing the magic of Chaplin.

Cabin Boy (1994) – Former David Letterman writer Chris Elliott stars as Nathaniel Mayweather, the arrogant heir to a hotel empire. Seeking to board the Queen Catherine to Hawaii, he instead stumbles onto a dilapidated fishing vessel named The Filthy Whore. Now stranded on the sea with an unhappy crew (including Brian Doyle-Murray and James Gammon), Nathaniel must earn his keep and contend with all the dangers of Hell’s Bucket, including a jealous giant (Mike Starr), an iceberg monster, and a cupcake that likes to spit tobacco. While it’s a bizarre comedy, it should be perfect for those whose taste in humor is unconventional.

If you’re fortunate enough to have your own comedy club, then you probably know how hard it is to keep the audience entertained. For the most part, knowing which comedy club comedian you should hire is a lot like knowing who you’re going to marry –there are three main criteria: looks, personality, and longevity.

You want to make sure whomever you choose has the look that will capture the audience’s attention. Sometimes your comedy club comedian will be a female –this is always an interesting concept. Seeing as the comedy world isn’t exactly bubbling over with female comics, having one open at your club will guarantee that your crowd will at least stay in for the long haul to see if she can do her stuff. If your comic is extra gorgeous, he or she’ll have much more to prove than someone whose only concern is their routine.

Be sure that your comedy club comedian has the right personality. This, of course, has a lot to do with your venue and your audience. Being a comic isn’t easy, especially if they can’t win over the audience because their particular brand of comedy is too dry or too spicy. But more than that, you don’t want to hire a comic who can’t handle a good heckling –remember Michael Richards? Not a good look. You want a comic who can keep the audience on their toes, keep them guessing. You want a personality that sparkles all night, not one that fizzles after three minutes.

Which leads into the next consideration: longevity. As with any relationship, the potential that your comedy club comedian will be able to sustain his routine for as long as you need him is paramount. Longevity means that no matter what happens –whether he gets heckled within the first 30 seconds or he gets a whooping cough reaction, you’ve got to make sure that he can keep the momentum going. Things will be very good at times and deplorable at others; the great comic knows how to keep the good times rolling no matter how the audience reacts throughout.