In the spirit of the new ‘Ghostbusters’: 10 great comedies starring women

The new “Ghostbusters” hits theaters this week, and its journey to fruition has been stickier than a Stay Puft marshmallow.

First, there were outcries from fans when it was announced there would even be a reboot (blasphemy!). Then there were cries of outrage when it was announced that director Paul Feig’s reboot would cast all women (ew! girls!). And then there was that lukewarm reception to the film’s first trailer (it got better).

Nevertheless, the film is here and looks to be more of a kind-of sequel than a remake, with Kristin Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones taking on the paranormal in New York City.

I am looking forward to it as a fan of the cast. Because, as history has proved, women are perfectly capable of carrying a funny movie. In that regard, here are 10 great female-driven comedies:

▪  “9 to 5” (1980) – Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton star as office workers who get revenge on their “sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot” boss (Dabney Coleman). The film triumphantly celebrates its female empowerment message, and it’s downright hilarious.

▪  “Bridesmaids” (2011) – Kristin Wiig shines as a lonely, insecure maid of honor to friend (and “Saturday Night Live” peer) Maya Rudolph. The film blazed the way for raunchy comedies with females, and nabbed a best supporting actress Oscar nomination for Melissa McCarthy.

▪  “Clueless” (1995) – A rich high school student (Alicia Silverstone) tries to use her fashion sense to change the world and be a matchmaker. Inspired by Jane Austen’s “Emma,” the film is charming, led by a gleaming performance by Silverstone. It also introduced us to a guy named Paul Rudd.

▪  “Easy A” (2010) – This is a smart, witty showcase for the irresistibly charming Emma Stone in this re-imagining of “The Scarlet Letter.” Stone plays a clean-cut high school student who relies on the student rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing. A very funny commentary on the pitfalls of high school popularity.

▪  “In a World ...” (2013) – Lake Bell wrote, directed and stars in this look at the cutthroat world of the movie trailer voice-over profession. She plays an underachieving voice coach who finds herself competing for a high-profile job against her arrogant father. Movie buffs will love this insider look at the industry – it’s a clever, enjoyable satire.

▪  “The Heat” (2013) – An uptight FBI agent (Sandra Bullock) teams up with a foul-mouthed Boston cop (Melissa McCarthy) to bring down a ruthless drug lord. It’s a pretty predictable premise and plot, but Bullock and McCarthy gamely make it more than work.

▪  “Juno” (2007) – Diablo Cody won an Oscar for her crackling script about a teen (Ellen Page) facing an unplanned pregnancy and the couple who want to raise her child. Its acerbic wit may be front and center, but underneath it is a sweet tenderness that never turns saccharine.

▪  “Legally Blonde” (2001) – Reese Witherspoon stars as a spoiled sorority queen who gets dumped by her boyfriend and decides to follow him to law school to get him back, but discovers she has more legal savvy than she thought. This would have been nothing without Witherspoon, who ably carries the movie and raises it above its predictability.

▪  “Mean Girls” (2004) – Tina Fey’s zinger of a script follows a teen (Lindsay Lohan) who gets to experience public school for the first time and and gets a quick primer on the cruel, tacit laws of popularity that divide her fellow students into tightly knit cliques. The film was a hit and rightfully made Lohan a star (until she squandered it away).

▪  “Trainwreck” (2015) – Amy Schumer stars as a hard partying, commitment-phobe magazine writer who may have to face her fears when she meets an actual nice guy (Bill Hader). The film is a complete blast and lets the always funny Schumer flex her comedy chops.

This story was originally published July 13, 2016 at 8:05 PM with the headline "In the spirit of the new ‘Ghostbusters’: 10 great comedies starring women."