Rod's Page: November 2021

What is Comedy?

When humor is used to represent something, we can say it's comedy -- that is, what makes us laugh. Although comedy doesn't have a concrete definition, in the mainstream, it's seen as a form of personal entertainment (since not everyone has the same kind of humor). However, comedy isn't just meant to be funny; oftentimes it's used to tell a story in a light-hearted manner. Additionally, comedy -- despite its subjective content -- remains one of the most popular film genres in the country. The main reason is that it allows viewers to laugh and connect with each other more easily than any other genre. Directors like Mel Brooks, Rob Reiner, and John Hughes have arguably revolutionized the comedy industry.

Content

Jokes, a no-brainer for comedy. They expose flaws in society and create space to breathe in movies. Although flaws are recognized, there is no solution for them, thus creating jokes. This is precisely why Comedies do so well because the consequence of humor (generated by jokes, irony, etc) is empathy and relatability.

Relatability is often used in comedy films, designed to connect with the viewer and make the movie more intrinsically important. Most effective comedy productions can point out anomalies in our day-to-day lives, and depict universal feelings by making us laugh. Characters also make up a large part of the movies’ relatability, whether it's about the average joe or a unique group of people. An example of this is from the sitcom “Friends”, where each character represents a type of person: The logical one -Monica, the lovable loser-Ross, the dumb one-Joey, the crazy one-Pheobe, the sarcastic one-Chandler, the materialistic one-Rachel. Whether you agree or disagree, it's safe to say that the show did a good job contrasting different traits and personalities to appeal to a bigger audience.

Dramatic swings are also used in comedy, mainly serving to hook the viewer and balance the content, without straying away from light-heartedness. For example, Ghostbusters would have been dull if there wasn't an Antagonist like the Big Bad Ghost, and Airplane! Would have been less exciting if the pilot did not get sick. Anyways, almost all comedies have a conflict that is resolved in the end, and If there isn't a combination of funny and strife, then the movie is in risk of becoming tedious.

Parody (along with satire and irony) is another tool used frequently by creators for comedic purposes. Parody is the mimicking of an existing artwork with the purpose of ridiculing or jesting at it, or in simple terms, an intentional mockery. Parody usually targets authors, politicians, celebrities, corporations, and stereotypes. Its importance in comedies is that it aids in criticizing subjects, while still transmitting a humorous and light-hearted view on the matter.

Positive endings are almost always incorporated in this genre, because the viewer is watching to laugh and have a good time, rather than sob and fright. Ending on a good note will leave the viewer wanting more in the long term, which is also why it becomes so “addicting” to watch. A well-made comedy should be timeless, therefore the jokes and plot created to amuse an audience must be working for years to come, which is why the positive endings are a nice little bow to wrap it all up.

Production Techniques

Sound is frequently used to emphasize a joke and/or scene of a comedy. Sometimes the sound is exaggerated and loud, thereby creating the sense of absurdity or silliness, and other times there is no sound, thus spawning an awkward, yet humorous feeling. Also, the use of sound can depict scenes’ punchlines. For example, bass to treble sliding pitch plays when a character slips off a banana peel. Background noise in comedies can influence the audience’s sense of the movie, a few examples are:

Sudden increases in volume express climax, impatience, and violence.
Intermittent noises express chaos, disorder, anarchy, conflict, and childishness.
Sounds that suddenly fade express cowardness, lack of leadership, betrayal, and defeat.

Comedies also make great use of multi-cameras by switching back and forth between scenes and shots. This technique is often used with the purpose of mirroring the joke’s intention and exaggerating interactions. For instance: a character looks for his friend at the mall and sees a look-alike walking across a store. The main character touches the person’s shoulder expecting to see his friend but quickly realizes they are someone else. The camera switches back and forth between the two character’s facial reactions for a long awkward period of time. This interaction wouldn't be as funny if the camera didn't switch back and forth for a longer than normal amount of time.

Marketing

Although some comedies are marketed for specific age groups, most 18+ comedies are marketed for all age groups above that age. R-rated movies are also becoming viewed more by younger age groups since restrictions on what media is consumed are limited now more than ever, so companies are marketing these movies on social media to get the most traffic for profits. Although comedies are marketed for both males and females, according to Statista research, the majority of comedy viewers in the US are men ages 29-44.

Comedy movie posters usually have specific elements that attract audiences. Light and bright colors are often used, as well as big bold letters. Sometimes comedy posters have humorous quotes attached to them, and at least one main character with an expressive look. Some posters also have caricatures of the characters, helping the film’s comedic nature be better represented.

Samples

Shaun of the dead (2004) is a horror-comedy about a zombie apocalypse taking place in London. Shaun (Simon Pegg) and Ed (Nick Frost) are two best friends who slack off most of their days. Shaun has very little direction in life and decides to go to a pub with Ed to forget about their struggles. When they return, Shaun and Ed’s roommate, Pete, talks about a bite mark he got from a mugger. When they wake up the next morning they realize London has been reigned by a zombie apocalypse. Shaun escapes with his roommates and does all he can to survive the attack while meeting with other friends and family along the way. The film hints at the viewers of its comedic nature at the beginning when Shaun is oblivious to the zombie attack happening around him. The inappropriateness of Shaun’s behavior and his character’s playfulness during the scene enlists us to laugh right off the bat. The movie also has relatable characters, which makes it more personal and interesting. Additionally, there are tons of sight gags in place, such as a scene where Shaun decides to jump a fence but fails when he tumbles with the fence midway. While Shaun of the dead has its horror traits, it's mostly a parody of most zombie movies, which helps establish this movie’s position in the comedy genre since its whole nature is to make fun of that overused theme

The Hangover (2009) stars Alan (Zach Galifianakis), Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), and Doug (Justin Bartha) as best friends who go to Las Vegas for Doug’s bachelor party. However, after Alan, Phil and Stu wake up from a hangover the next day, they realize Doug is missing. The three best friends look for Doug and face challenges and people that make their search difficult. The whole movie is based around the idea of alcoholism and drug use while poking at them in a comedic sense. The movie is funny because it takes a hangover to a whole new extreme, to the point where some scenes in the movie just become absurd. The relatability reflected from the character is also something worth mentioning because the characters are always messing up and making their lives harder. Additionally, the situations the three guys find themselves in are exaggerated (such as finding a lion in their hotel bathroom), which adds to the silliness and satire of the movie.

The poster features a quote that says “Some guys just can't handle Vegas”, and given the troublesome and exciting nature tied with Vegas, it attracted the 18+ fans of comedy, making up the majority of the movie’s audiences. The baby with sunglasses, and Ed Helms on the right with a broken tooth already give the movie a comedic aura.

Iconic Comedy Films To Consider

Blazing Saddles (1974)