funny videos of the month

‘Marathon Girl,’ ‘Spank Patrol,’ and This Month’s Other Must-See Comedy Shorts

Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos Courtesy of Hannah Lynn Crane/Vimeo, @bomanizer/Instagram, @kevnralton/Instagram, NoBudge and Hannah Heller/Vimeo

Each month, many funny videos are posted to every corner of the internet — from Twitter and Instagram to Vimeo and sometimes other weird places we’ll have trouble embedding. Because you’re busy living your life, you might miss some of these funny videos and feel left out when others bring them up in conversation. Well, worry not! We’re here to make sure you’re not listening in on conversations but leading them … as long as those conversations are about funny internet videos. Here, our favorite comedy shorts of the month.

“Alec Baldwin Just Bought a Ticket to Car World Gala,” by William Banks

Admittedly, the barrier to entry might be higher for this video than some of the others, but if you’ve been following William Banks’s extended effort to raise awareness about an L. Ron Hubbard–esque realm called “Car World” — which reached new heights in a gala this month — the funniest thing that could possibly happen is a disheveled Alec Baldwin engaging with Banks’s literature from the back of a car. It has not been disclosed whether Baldwin attended Car World Gala.

“A Headache But It’s the Kardashians,” by Boman Martinez-Reid

At what point does mocking The Kardashians transcend comedy and become a sort of thesis on contemporary American culture, as defined by aggressive vapidity and late-stage capitalism? Maybe right now. Maybe this exact point in our history. Startling.

“Influencer Vows,” by Stefanie Yunger

Influencers have redefined the way we think, feel, and scroll. Now, they’re showing us how to love. It’s a special kind of love founded on finding an old or sad (or both) no-questions-asked benefactor who feels okay staying out of posts while bankrolling trips to Bali. Powerful.

“Marathon Girl,” by Hannah Lynn Crane

Hannah Lynn Crane is back with another heart-achingly good film. This time, she’s running a marathon. Unsurprisingly, she delivers on what we’ve come to expect after a slew of Vimeo Staff Picks: deeply personal, self-effacing, highly uncomfortable, brilliant docu-comedy filmmaking.

“My Video Game Joke,” by Karli Marulli

In this stand-up clip, comedian Karli Marulli waxes about the experience of watching a boy play video games, and her increasingly loaded attempts to connect her inventory inquiries to her personal life. Boys, pay attention: If your video-game avatar is shouldering a heavy load, this could be an opportunity to make a connection.

“Nice to E-Meet You,” by Paddy Delaney

It’s a nightmarish challenge that everyone has experienced: the casual but cheeky email introduction. In this video, Paddy Delaney speeds through every conceivable option, set to the (appropriately) equally chill and anxiety-provoking Wii menu music. Feel free to use some of these in your personal correspondence.

“Sativa,” by Kelly Cooper and Johnny Frohman

Photo: NoBudge

The always fresh and exciting indie streamer NoBudge is currently hosting this short from Kelly Cooper and Johnny Frohman, in which a cyclist weed dealer’s disruptive brush with a preoccupied WFH-er (Tynan DeLong) throws her for a loop when her inability to think of a suitable play on words for “sativa” reaches stroke-inducing extremes. Stick around for some unexpectedly disturbing imagery and a very satisfying final joke. (Watch it here.)

“The Spank Patrol,” by Kevin Ralston

Carmen Christopher meets The State in this important dissection of cops who punish “supervillains” through severe tush spankings. If that sounds a little too silly for polite society, just wait ’til you watch.

“Ursula,” by Hannah Heller

We love this short from writer-director-actress Hannah Heller as a cowgirl with the blues who connects with another lonely soul (Martin Starr) during an extended drought. Their interactions take increasingly surreal left turns during a quasi-date at Starr’s apartment, where they have to smoke in the bathroom to avoid his philosophical, asthmatic brother (DC Pierson). Filled with handcrafted touches like an enormous fly and a sea of Solo cups sloshing around in bloody water, this isn’t to be missed for fans of deadpan comedy.

“What’s the Best Restaurant in NYC?” by Harris Alterman

Anyone who thinks this video is “dumb” or “repetitive” or “lazy” just doesn’t get the nuances of contemporary thought leaders like Harris Alterman. And, without getting too graphic, we encourage you to try his haute cuisine recco.

Like what you saw? Want to be on this monthly roundup? Show us your stuff! 

Luke Kelly-Clyne is a co-head of HartBeat Independent and a watcher of many web videos. Send him yours at @LKellyClyne.

Graham Techler has contributed writing to The New Yorker and McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. Send him your videos at @gr8h8m_t3chl3r.

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