Comedy: Beyond the Fluids

[bruce_pullen]

Is comedy nothing more than: who sleeps with who anymore? Serious comedy no longer exists. Just watched Groundhog Day (1993) the other day. A film like that couldn't get made today. What happened: American Pie (1999) took over?

[dvd_mazter]

Serious comedies still do exist and there are really some fantastic ones released in the past years such as Little Miss Sunshine and Sideways. More rude and crude comedies have taken over however more serious comedies are still around and I enjoy them as much as I do the more rude comedies

[bruce_pullen]

Originally Posted by dvd_mazter

Serious comedies still do exist and there are really some fantastic ones released in the past years such as Little Miss Sunshine and Sideways. More rude and crude comedies have taken over however more serious comedies are still around and I enjoy them as much as I do the more rude comedies

Don't forget Juno (2007). However, one good comedy a year. Doesn't qualify as a comeback.

Sideways (2004)
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Juno (2007)

One a year: isn't enough.

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by bruce_pullen

Don't forget Juno (2007). However, one good comedy a year. Doesn't qualify, as a comeback.

i dont know that i agree with that. the reason certain movies in genres stand out more than others is because they are the diamonds in the rough that don't happen all the time. id consider at least one fantastic comedy a year evidence that it will always be there. can't expect them all to stand out. just me.

edit: there have been some great comedies in recent years:
SuperBad, Wedding Crashers, 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Anchorman, Dodgeball (at least I loved it)

I don't think they've gone anywhere.

[uziel5000]

It seems like "high concept" comedies are out of style right now. You think Groundhog Day wouldn't get made today, I don't think As Good as it Gets would have gotten made back then if it wasn't for such a strong cast.

However I have nothing against toilet humor. American Pie was really funny. So was There is Something About Mary and Knocked Up and 40 Year Old Virgin were hilarious.

[mikejet]

I think all the Apatow films are the perfect representations of the comedies of my born in the 80's generation. They are the evolution of the comedies like Porky's. It's exactly the type of comedy I want. There are more serious comedies too and many get written off as romantic comedies:
Fever Pitch
Stranger Than Fiction

Apatow rules and I'm loving it.

Oh yeah, Andy Samberg is a genius and it's a shame people ignore Hot Rod.

"A COOKED GOOSE FOR EVERYONE!"

[dvd_mazter]

Originally Posted by mikejet

I think all the Apatow films are the perfect representations of the comedies of my born in the 80's generation. They are the evolution of the comedies like Porky's. It's exactly the type of comedy I want. There are more serious comedies too and many get written off as romantic comedies:
Fever Pitch
Stranger Than Fiction

Apatow rules and I'm loving it.

Oh yeah, Andy Samberg is a genius and it's a shame people ignore Hot Rod.

"A COOKED GOOSE FOR EVERYONE!"

I really liked Hot Rod even though I am really not a fan of Samberg himself. It was good old physical humor . The opening scene had me in tears from laughing so hard where I first saw it.

I also concur that Apatow rules

[mikejet]

Originally Posted by dvd_mazter

I really liked Hot Rod even though I am really not a fan of Samberg himself. It was good old physical humor . The opening scene had me in tears from laughing so hard where I first saw it.

I also concur that Apatow rules

Samberg is the next in line to inherit the comedy scene once Apatow moves on. Sure some people don't "get" him but the brilliance of his SNL Digital Shorts can't be ignored.

"I got a text message from you and I ****ed in my pants!"

[uziel5000]

I know its not the subject but this got me to remember about the films of Steve "Savage" Holland. At least I think that is his name. One Crazy Summer? Better Off Dead? Anybody remember those. I used to watch his films all the time.

[Gamma_Winstead]

Juno sucked. I'm sorry but it did. Clerks 2 was smart, while being dirty. Well a little smart.

We've got Sunshine Cleaning this year too! Check out my thread on that too!

[jadedeath]

Originally Posted by bruce_pullen

Don't forget Juno (2007). However, one good comedy a year. Doesn't qualify as a comeback.

Sideways (2004)
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Juno (2007)

One a year: isn't enough.

That's because Sideways Sucked @$$ on a stick.

Logan

[mikejet]

Originally Posted by jadedeath

That's because Sideways Sucked @$$ on a stick.

Logan

I hated Sideways because of that girl from Grey's and that guy, everytime I see him I think of Wings.

[SquidPuppet]

Hey....the 70's had films like Kentucky Fried Movie....so low brow filth humor has been around forever.

Personally I enjoy any comedy if it "works". I have seen A+ and F- comedies from all spectroms of the genre.

[bruce_pullen]

Originally Posted by Sussudio

i dont know that i agree with that. the reason certain movies in genres stand out more than others is because they are the diamonds in the rough that don't happen all the time. id consider at least one fantastic comedy a year evidence that it will always be there. can't expect them all to stand out. just me.

edit: there have been some great comedies in recent years:
SuperBad, Wedding Crashers, 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Anchorman, Dodgeball (at least I loved it)

I don't think they've gone anywhere.

With the exception of Knocked Up (2007), the rest are parodies not comedies. They're going 35 in a 20 mile zone. And they're more farce than comedy. More circus than haha. More hit-and-run, than fanciful. More hey we’re stupid… than they’re one of us. I'm not sure, I call any of those (except Knocked Up [maybe Virgin]) comedies.

What do you think? Difference of taste or form? Maybe both?

If you have to ask yourself. Where’s the control? Where’s the subtlety? Where’s the grace? Is it comedy? Charlie Chaplin to this. Talk about a downgrade Gas, sex, and stereotypes aren't comedy. That’s more exhibition than anything.

More grade school than adult. More infant than serious; is that comedy?

[jadedeath]

Originally Posted by mikejet

I hated Sideways because of that girl from Grey's and that guy, everytime I see him I think of Wings.

It was Paul Giamatti for me, the guy isn't nearly half as funny as many people think he is.

Logan

[bruce_pullen]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Hey....the 70's had films like Kentucky Fried Movie....so low brow filth humor has been around forever.

Personally I enjoy any comedy if it "works". I have seen A+ and F- comedys from all spectroms of the genre.

Today makes 70's lowbrow look priestly. Back then, they still insinuated.

If it work, "it works".

..That's why were here? No you, but collectively.

Oh well.

[mikejet]

Originally Posted by bruce_pullen

With the exception of Knocked Up (2007), the rest are parodies not comedies. They're going 35 in a 20 mile zone. And they're more farce than comedy. More circus than haha. More hit-and-run, than fanciful. More hey we’re stupid… than they’re one of us. I'm not sure, I call any of those (except Knocked Up [maybe Virgin]) comedies.

What do you think? Difference of taste or form? Maybe both?

If you have to ask yourself. Where’s the control? Where’s the subtlety? Where’s the grace? Is it comedy? Charlie Chaplin to this. Talk about a downgrade Gas, sex, and stereotypes aren't comedy. That’s more exhibition than anything.

More grade school than adult. More infant than serious; is that comedy?

I just see how often I laugh and if I laugh so hard that I actually missed a joke and discover something new the next time I watch it it's a winner.

Look at a film liek Blazing Saddles, full of fart jokes and racial comments but it's one of the best damn comedies ever made.

[bruce_pullen]

Originally Posted by gamma626

Juno sucked. I'm sorry but it did. Clerks 2 was smart, while being dirty. Well a little smart.

We've got Sunshine Cleaning this year too! Check out my thread on that too!

Juno was comedy and drama combined. If you were expecting Kevin Smith, then of course it sucked.

To me, serio-comic is a lost art. You have to watch Juno, like Terms of Endearment (1983) to get it.

[bruce_pullen]

Originally Posted by mikejet

I just see how often I laugh and if I laugh so hard that I actually missed a joke and discover something new the next time I watch it it's a winner.

Look at a film liek Blazing Saddles, full of fart jokes and racial comments but it's one of the best damn comedies ever made.

It's interesting: you mention Brooks. There were specific references to the Western, Marlene Dietrich, the Hollywood musical, Hedley Lamarr (the actress), the acting profession, and film in general. All these references balanced the humor, and made it work. The sinister laugh becomes a gag. Everyone in town: has the same last time. “You’ll do it for Randolph Scott.” (People inhale) “Randolph Scott!.” (They start singing) “Randolph Scott..” “Okay Sheriff, 24 hours.”

Also.., Brooks never went as far: as now. He alluded rather than showing. "It's true, it's true." Something: you must keep in mind. Blazing Saddles did a play-by-play (of the Western) besides being a comedy. Today, they fail at comedy. Think of that.

[mikejet]

That's my point though, you can have fart jokes and sex humor as long as there is a true basis for the rest of the movie. Apatow has that for most of his films:

40 yr old - coming to terms with your life and growing up
Superbad - teens coming to terms with going to college and the value of friendship
Forgetting Sarah Marshall - this film more than any of his others is the most mature in the respect it has to understanding a relationship and what it's perspectives are from each others point of view.