For you, what defines really good comedy and give an example of one of your favorites. Looking for thoughtful answers only,please!
2007-03-03 03:44:09 · 10 answers · asked by jidwg 6 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Movies
I think that good comedy is based on two or three basic principles: the deflation or flouting of authority or pomposity (the pie in the face, the snooty person and the banana peel), the unexpected reversal of expected results ( a man jumps out the window of a three-story building and instead of falling to his death, lands on a sofa that is being lifted by a crane past that window and is very surprised and bewildered)(this also applies to spoken dialog, ala the Marx Brothers, who answer sense and sensibility with insult and insanity), and what I like to call child's play; when adults retain child-like qualities in their actions and reactions in adult and/or serious situations (think of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy)---add to these principles a hero or heroine who wins out in the end, or survives a disaster relatively intact, or who proves their worth either by pluck, or wit, or even by mishap, and you've got great comedy.
Some of my favorite comedies, include:
The General, and Steamboat Bill, Jr., with Buster Keaton
The Kid Brother, and Girl Crazy, with Harold Lloyd
The Gold Rush, and City Lights, with Charlie Chaplin
Big Business, and Sons of the Desert, with Laurel & Hardy
It's a Gift, and The Bank Dick, with W.C. Fields
Duck Soup, and A Night at the Opera, with the Marx Brothers
The Awful Truth, and Bringing Up Baby (Cary Grant)
The Three Stooges in nearly anything.
Mr Hulot's Holiday, and My Uncle, with Jacques Tati
The Great Race (Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood and Jack Lemmon)
Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines
and recently, The Rat Race!
(As usual, can't give just one!)
2007-03-03 04:43:59 · answer #1 · answered by Palmerpath 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The best comedy is original. It's offbeat, and you never see it coming. My favorite comedy is the movie Accepted. Here are some lines.
Schrader: Hey Glen when did you start working at the Quik N Stop?
Glen: Since I got boned...hard by every college I applied to.
B: What happened?
Glen: Some political crap. I got a 0 on my SAT's.
Schrader: You know you get 600 points just for signing your name.
Hoyt: Hey I'm Hoyt Ambros.
Schrader: Yeah you are the president of this whole fraternity.
Hoyt: That I am.
Schrader: And you date Monica.
Hoyt: That I do.
Schrader: Yeah I think about her when I mastur..... (room goes silent).
2007-03-03 12:07:57 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What defines good comedy, all depends on what a person sees as being funny. That's why comedy is one of the hardest mediums to write or perform. Some people like silly "pie in the face" kind of slapstick humor, some like fart jokes and toilet humor, some like dry, witty,deadpan humor, the list goes on and on... The most important thing probably, is being able to relate to your audience and always being original! My favorite comedy... Seinfeld, or Curb Your Enthusiasm!
2007-03-03 11:54:48 · answer #3 · answered by nfogey_1981 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Timing and the element of surprise. Absurdity is my favorite comedy direction. I liked "Get a Life" with Chris Elliot. He came up with some pretty zany stuff and had the ability to make something out of nothing.
2007-03-03 11:51:25 · answer #4 · answered by spackler 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Someone that makes me laugh. Doesn't have to be a real Intellectual thing Like I have enjoyed Seinfeld. Everyone loves Raymond etc...
Then on the other hand someone like Margaret Chow thinks shes funny and many think but I feel she's very insulting to those that have a mind.
2007-03-03 11:51:31 · answer #5 · answered by Scott 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good comedy although has different definition for different people but most versatile comedy has:
-a huge element of irony in it.for example,more serious,real life matter you choose for comedy,better are its chances of success
-animated facial expressions.
-an element of tragedy.
My favourite comedy movie:Man In Black
2007-03-03 11:59:31 · answer #6 · answered by Digit Lee 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
timing is everything - and facial expression
O and good comedy is NOT defined by vulgarity. Most people laff at vulgarity because they are too embarrassed and shocked to do anything else.
2007-03-03 11:48:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Likeable characters/ good actors and a storyline you can follow. The Holiday is an example of this.
2007-03-03 11:48:33 · answer #8 · answered by THEemma 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Anything that comes from Russell Peters....
2007-03-03 11:48:16 · answer #9 · answered by Sultan Cartman 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
laughter.................
2007-03-03 11:51:01 · answer #10 · answered by Amy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋