6 Films for April Fools’ Day

With April Fools’ Day upon us, it’s time to be vigilant around practical jokers so we should expect the unexpected. To protect yourself from falling victim, you need to think like a practical joker.  

It might help to watch some films that showcase some of the most daring examples of human ingenuity in cinematic history being deployed in the art of fooling mere mortals. 

When planning a practical joke, it’s important to know your boundaries. For example, it’s probably best to avoid pranking any gardeners because they might take a fence. Actually, a gardener being pranked was the basis for the first-ever film comedy, when Louis Lumière directed the short L'Arroseur Arrosé in 1895, which was also likely the first film of a fictional nature.      

Most of Borat's contributors and interviewees were under the impression that he was a real journalist from Kazakhstan

Surely one of the most shocking comedy films ever made, Borat is also one of the funniest. Sacha Baron Cohen plays the titular character of Borat, a reporter from Kazakhstan who is sent to America to make a documentary on American life and society in general. Chaos then ensues. 

Much of the genius of this film lies in the hilarity provided by the outrageous fictional character of Borat interacting with unsuspecting real-life Americans in unscripted scenarios that produce extraordinary results.  

Ferris Beuler is the ultimate skiving movie, as well as being excellent April Fools' Day inspiration

A classic 1980s teen comedy in which Matthew Broderick plays a teenager who decides to take the day off school in favour of spending it hanging out in Chicago with a couple of friends. Ferris Bueller goes to incredible lengths to fool people in order to make it happen. 

This is one of the more eccentric John Hughes films and is staple viewing for anybody who likes 1980s teen comedies. It’s over-the-top but it doesn’t matter because anybody who has ever been a teenager can identify with wanting the day off school.  

Hughes was actually a former student of one of the real schools used during filming. Curiously, a poster displayed in the background of one school scene reads “Go Shermer”, which is possibly a nod to The Breakfast Club, also written and directed by Hughes, set in a fictional school called Shermer High School.  

This would have been a very different movie with the original casting idea of David Bowie and Mick Jagger

If Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was for juvenile tricksters, then Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is like the advanced level. Steve Martin and Michael Caine play conmen hell-bent on conning wealthy American Janet Colgate (Glenne Headley) out of a large sum of money. 

Originally David Bowie and Mick Jagger were to play the male leads, but for whatever reason that didn’t come to pass. It’s difficult to imagine how the film could have been any better though as the casting is perfect with Steve Martin, Michael Caine and Glenne Headley—all dynamic throughout. It’s funny, daring and one of director Frank Oz’s greatest achievements—which is saying something considering his filmography. 

Johnny Knoxville plays a badly-behaved grandpa, interacting with unsuspecting real-life people as in the Jackass series

Bad Grandpa is a Jackass film, but it’s arguably cleverer than the TV show. Some people would give their right arm to be a part of the cultural phenomenon that is Jackass, but given the nature of certain stunts, you could be forgiven for wondering if you might risk other body parts too. 

In this outing, Johnny Knoxville plays a badly behaved grandpa named Irving Zisman who goes on a memorable American road trip with his grandson Billy. Bad Grandpa is bags of fun and it’s another example of fictional characters being used to interact with unsuspecting real-life people to achieve maximum hilarity. 

An epic practical joke, it took around two years to collect all the footage for the movie

The joke was on all of us as Joaquin Phoenix spent somewhere in the region of two years pretending that he had ditched his acting career in favour of attempting to become a rapper. It was all for the sake of making this film, which is actually rather good.  

It’s quite a fascinating watch at times because Phoenix pretends to be serious, while the audiences at his various public appearances are none the wiser. It’s interesting to see how people react when a public figure appears to be going “off script”.  

Despite being made on a very low budget, The Edukators was an international success

Sometimes practical jokes can get a bit out-of-hand, but in The Edukators starring Daniel Brühl, perhaps it depends on your perspective. Young anti-capitalists in Berlin break into wealthy people’s homes to rearrange their furniture as a way to teach them the error of their ways.  

The Edukators was made on a low budget and shows what can be done with a compelling storyline and some creativity. You can only break into so many homes before something goes badly wrong, of course, but it’s an entertaining film that raises questions and is well worth your attention. 

Keep your wits about you on April 1, people. Either that or just stay in bed until midday. 

Read more: Hilarious April Fools' Day inspiration for the office

Read more: Cult films to see before you die: The King of Comedy

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