Eugene Levy has come a long way since debuting in Ivan Reitman's horror-comedy Cannibal Girls in 1973. The hilarious comedic actor cut his teeth at the infamous Chicago improv group Second City where he met and worked with the likes of John Candy, Harold Ramis, Martin Short, and perhaps his most important muse, Catherine O'Hara.
Levy and O'Hara continued their professional relationship through a number of Christopher Guest movies and most recently starred together on the hysterical TV show Schitt's Creek. The series finale just aired this week, giving us the perfect opportunity to check out Eugene Levy's 10 best movies, according to Rotten Tomatoes!
Father Of The Bride (1991) 70%
To know Levy's work is to know his melodious singing voice. Exhibit A? A ridiculous wedding singer audition in the classic Steve Martin comedy Father of the Bride. Who can forget?
When George Banks' eldest daughter Annie (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) is set to get hitched, he can't quite let her go. George reluctantly helps plan the wedding, which results in one episodic disaster after another. Levy joins fellow SCTV pal Martin Short in the cast of the film, which is a remake of the 1950 Spencer Tracy title.
Curious George (2006) 70%
To know Levy's work is to also know of his indelible speaking voice. Exhibit B? His voice-role as Clovis in the 2006 animated redo of Curious George. Will Ferrell stars as Ted, A.K.A. Man with the Yellow Hat, a museum employee who brings a box of items home after the place is shut down with plans of becoming a parking lot. In the box is a three-inch tall idol which somehow morphs into a hyperactive monkey Ted names George. Cue the zany hilarity!
Over The Hedge (2006) 75%
Levy participated in two big-budget animated features released in 2006. Curious George was the first, and Over the Hedge was the second.
As Lou in the latter, Levy played a fatherly porcupine who exhibits positive vibes and optimistic outlooks. He's married to Penny, played by—guess who—Catherine O'Hara. Plot-wise, the film tracks a raccoon named RJ (Bruce Willis) who inadvertently steals food from a frightening bear. With a week to replenish the food, RJ enlists the help of several wild animals to restore the bear's food supply.
Goon (2012) 81%
As a proud Canadian, Levy could likely never rest in his grave without making at least one hockey movie. Thankfully, Levy did just that in the hilarious underdog story of Goon!
Doug Glatt (Seann William Scott) is a wayward bouncer with fists of steel. When he decides to try out for a minor league hockey team, he becomes the squad's primary enforcer or Goon. Levy plays Dr. Glatt, Doug's adoptive father who can't quite relate to his son's sporting brutality. As for Doug, he finds catharsis in beating the hell out of his opponents.
Splash (1984) 90%
From one doctor to another! Ron Howard's romantic fantasy film Splash not only introduced the world to the star power of Tom Hanks, but it also reunited SCTV alums, Levy and John Candy, in plum comedic roles.
When Allen returns to Cape Cod as an adult, he instantly meets a weird scientist named Dr. Kornbluth (Levy) whose mission in life is to discover strange sea creatures. Allen falls into the water, hits his head, and wakes up to find a gorgeous blonde looming over him. Little does he know said woman (Daryl Hannah) is a mermaid!
A Mighty Wind (2003) 87%
Levy gives arguably his best and most touching performance of his entire career as Mickey, the stoned-out-of-his-gourd ex-hippy with an angelic voice in A Mighty Wind. Yup, "more precious than a pot of gold!"
For trivia buffs, the gorgeous duet Levy croons with Catherine O'Hara at the end of the film was written by costar Michael McKean. The Christopher Guest "mockumentary" charts a folk music reunion festival among a bunch of former stars. The movie is more than satire, becoming a vessel to showcase the cast's impressive musical talents.
Waiting For Guffman (1996) 91%
Community theater has never been ribbed and ripped as hard as Christopher Guest's scathing Waiting for Guffman in which Levy plays a staid dentist with delusions of grandeur regarding his singing and acting abilities.
Corky St. James (Guest) is producing a local play to celebrate the 150th anniversary of small-town Blaine, Missouri. As such, he recruits a spate of locals with moderate-to-no-talent. With a Broadway reviewer said to be in attendance for the premiere, the collection of wacky characters do their best to win the audience over.
National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) 93%
Who can forget Levy working extra hard to sell the "family truckster" to Clark Griswold at the beginning of National Lampoon's Vacation? Classic!
After settling for the truckster, Clark sets out to travel from Chicago to Los Angeles for the whole family to enjoy a stay at Wally World—Six Flags, in real life. The trip proves to be one epic calamity after another, culminating in Wally World being closed for maintenance once the Griswold's eventually arrive. Clark goes postal, buys a bb-gun and holds John Candy hostage as the family enjoys every amusement ride in the park.
Best In Show (2000) 94%
In Christopher Guest's uproarious satire of the National Dog Show, Levy plays a dog owner with two left feet. Literally!
Best in Show features a ragtag collection of eccentric dog owners who go to great lengths to get their beloved pooches in shape for the National competition. Levy pairs with Catherine O'Hara (natch), a pair of crooning Terrier owners who make it quite far into the competition. When Levy is forced to parade his pooch for the judges, his two left feet make him run in circles rather than in a straight line.
Finding Dory (2016) 94%
Despite a 12-year absence from the collective consciousness of the mainstream, Finding Dory struck a major chord with critics and filmgoers alike when it swam to theaters in 2016.
Levy plays Charlie in the film, Dory's ever-concerned father. Remember, the film revolves around Dory's desperate search to find her long-lost parents and the lasting friendships she makes along the way. Levy joins Diane Keaton as Dory's parents, Charlie and Jenny, who feel terribly for letting their daughter out of their sight long enough for her to get lost.