Patrick Mahomes is widely considered one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

As the star player for the Kansas City Chiefs, he has cemented himself as a Super Bowl champion and league MVP at just 26 years old.

Off the field, Mahomes enjoys unwinding by watching comedic films that help him relax and find humor.

In interviews, he has openly shared his fondness for several classics in the comedy genre. Step Brothers, The Hangover, and Bridesmaids top Mahomes’s list as some of his all-time favorite laugh-out-loud movies.

While these films may seem like lighthearted entertainment on the surface, a closer examination reveals they offer more depth and insight into Mahomes’s comedic tastes.

Step Brothers (2008)

One of Mahomes’s go-to feel-good comedies is the raunchy 2008 film Step Brothers. Directed by Adam McKay and starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, Step Brothers follows two overgrown man-children, Brennan Huff and Dale Doback, who are forced to live together as stepbrothers when their single parents marry. The film is a non-stop barrage of absurd gags, physical humor, and immature antics as Brennan and Dale act more like temperamental toddlers than adults in their late 30s.

On the surface, Step Brothers seems like a simple slapstick comedy built around Ferrell and Reilly’s talent for improvisation and physical comedy. However, the film also works as a sharp satire of arrested development and dysfunctional family dynamics. Brennan and Dale never matured past their adolescent mindsets and still act like competitive boys vying for their parents’ approval. The film pokes fun at how some people never fully transition into responsible adulthood. It also highlights the challenges of blending families later in life.

The creative partnership between Ferrell and director McKay also adds nuanced layers to Step Brothers. Their films often use absurd premises to comment on societal issues like capitalism, toxic masculinity, and the American dream gone wrong. In Step Brothers, Brennan and Dale represent overgrown man-children clinging to childhood in an increasingly complex world that passed them by. While the film delivers endless gut-busting laughs, it also serves as a critique of stunted growth. This adds insightful depth beyond just silly slapstick.

For Mahomes, Step Brothers strikes the perfect balance of absurdity and intelligence. “It’s one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen,” he said. “Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly have such great comedic chemistry. Even after watching it dozens of times, I still catch something new that makes me laugh.” The film’s ability to make such profound commentary feel effortlessly hilarious is why Mahomes continues to find new joy in Step Brothers each viewing. Its multilayered comedy speaks to his discerning comedic tastes beyond just gut-busting gags.

The Hangover (2009)

Another staple of Mahomes’s movie rotation is the 2009 raunchy black comedy The Hangover. Directed by Todd Phillips, The Hangover follows a bachelor party gone off the rails in Las Vegas. On the morning after, groomsmen Phil, Stu, Alan, and soon-to-be groom Doug wake up with pounding headaches and no memory of the previous night’s events. What follows is a mad scramble to piece together what happened as they encounter a series of absurd mishaps and mistaken identities.

On the surface, The Hangover delivers non-stop cringe-worthy laughs as the characters endure one outrageous scenario after another. However, the film also works as a clever deconstruction of toxic masculinity. The all-male characters engage in foolish risk-taking and macho bravado that leads to increasingly disastrous consequences. Their night of “boys just being boys” spirals into chaos, highlighting the immaturity and lack of responsibility that fuels their behavior. The film serves as a cautionary tale of how masculinity gone wrong can wreak havoc.

The Hangover also subverts expectations with its unpredictable plot twists. As the characters retrace their steps, new absurd revelations continuously unfold, keeping audiences constantly guessing. This element of surprise keeps the comedy feeling fresh with each viewing. For Mahomes, the film’s ability to still surprise him after multiple watches is a big part of its rewatchability. “I love trying to figure out the clues and piece together what happened before the big reveals,” he said. “It always finds new ways to surprise me.”

The creative team also infuses The Hangover with heart and nuance beyond just raunchy gags. Strong themes of friendship, responsibility, and learning from mistakes give the story resonance. It serves as both a wild comedic ride and a thoughtful commentary. This depth is part of what elevates The Hangover beyond a simple frat boy comedy in Mahomes’ eyes. Its multilayered approach to genre conventions through subversion and commentary speaks to his discerning comedic palate.

Bridesmaids (2011)

Another favorite in Mahomes’ repertoire is the 2011 female-driven comedy Bridesmaids. Written by Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig (who also stars), Bridesmaids helped usher in a new era of raunchy female-fronted comedies. The film follows Annie, a bakery owner struggling with financial troubles and a broken engagement. She agrees to serve as maid of honor for her best friend Lillian but finds her life spiraling out of control as she tries in vain to plan the perfect wedding.

On the surface, Bridesmaids delivers gut-busting laughs through cringe-worthy scenarios like the infamous food poisoning scene. However, the film also offers nuanced commentary on modern female relationships and societal expectations. Annie grapples with the pressures of being a good friend while also facing her own insecurities. The complex dynamics between Annie and the other bridesmaids feel authentic in capturing the highs and lows of real-life female friendships.

Bridesmaids also subverts expectations through its talented ensemble cast. Stars like Wiig, Mumolo, Melissa McCarthy, Ellie Kemper, and Wendi McLendon-Covey deliver hilarious performances while also feeling like fully realized characters. Their comedic talents elevate the material beyond just raunchy gags. Mahomes praised the film for showing “how funny and complex women can be when given the chance.” For the first time, a mainstream comedy offered audiences an authentic and hilarious vision of the female experience told from a woman’s perspective, without pandering to the male gaze.

This representation resonated deeply with Mahomes. “I loved seeing strong, funny women at the center of such a great comedy,” he said. “It proved that female-led stories and characters can be just as hilarious as anything else.” The film’s willingness to showcase women’s lives, relationships, and humor in an authentic light, without compromise, is part of what Mahomes finds so groundbreaking and appealing about Bridesmaids’ comedy.

In conclusion, Patrick Mahomes’s favorite comedies like Step Brothers, The Hangover, and Bridesmaids offer more than just gut-busting laughs on the surface. A closer examination reveals they infuse absurdist humor with insightful social commentary and nuanced character work. They subvert expectations through unpredictable plots and creative storytelling choices. For Mahomes, these films strike the perfect balance of delivering non-stop comedy while also feeling intelligent and thoughtful. Their willingness to push boundaries and offer new perspectives is part of what makes them such enduring classics in his eyes. Even after repeat viewings, he continues to find new layers of humor, commentary, and surprises. These comedies offer Mahomes the perfect blend of escapism and entertainment through their multidimensional approaches to the genre.