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Original AVQ&A Q*: Is there a piece of pop culture that absolutely, 100 percent never fails to make you laugh? (Or at least smile?)

SPCHQ A: Without a doubt, my go-to default anti-misery movie is 1999's South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut. I nearly passed out laughing the first time I saw it in the theater ten years ago. (They actually carded me when I went to see it, even though I was nearing 30!) You don't need to have watched the show to appreciate this incredibly twisted musical that provides surprisingly smart commentary on "negative media influence" paranoia. The songs are catchy and sing-along-able starting from the opening "Mountain Town" to "Uncle Fucka" to "Blame Canada" and beyond. The transfixed looks on the boys' faces the first time they watch Asses of Fire is amazing and accurate - just remember the first time you saw a "dirty" movie - and just goes from there. Lines from the movie sometimes work their way into my conversations. Sometimes I say that things have "warped my fragile little mind" or ask "What the hell is a rim job?" when I see certain consumer items. Although the last twenty minutes or so lag a bit, SP:BLU will always lift my misery thanks to its completely irreverent attitude, snark, and balls-out humor.

My "backup" go-to default anti-misery movie is the original 1988 version of Hairspray. It was perfectly written, cast, and paced. This may be John Waters' best film because he really loved the subject matter, having occasionally appeared on Baltimore's "Buddy Deane Show" as a teenager. It was Divine's best performance, and unfortunately his last. He delivers even the most throwaway lines with passion: "Could you turn that racket down, I'm TRYING to IRON in here. And my diet pill IS WEARING OFF." The musical version is just a pale, feeble counterfeit of the original, and John Travolta was just terrible as Edna Turnblad. I refuse to even acknowledge its existence.

* This feature is cribbed from the AV Club, AVQ&A, where staffers answer a pop culture related question. Read their answers to this question.