Can comedy on the big screen survive the super hero era?
#26
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Can comedy on the big screen survive the super hero era?
I think even the Farrelly Brothers bear some of the blame for the downward spiral of Comedies. I love Dumb & Dumber and There's Something About Mary and even enjoyed Kingpin. But they crossing the line of gross out humor, and still did it in a funny way. Everyone started to copycat it and it went to stupid, gross out humor like many comedies today.
#27
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Can comedy on the big screen survive the super hero era?
The House, Rough Night, and Baywatch all screamed "wait for HBO/Netflix" to me. The House looks like something I've seen before... like pieces of Neighbors, Sisters, and Old School thrown in a blender.
Rough Night... yet another entry in the 'things get wildly out of control' comedy subgenre and about the 20th film like this since The Hangover. Baywatch seemed like an attempt to '21 Jump Street' a different franchise.
I can't honestly think of the last big mainstream comedy that really felt surprising or fresh. I've been entertained and laughed at many of them, sure, but not in a way that felt like I'm seeing something new. I think much of this has to do with a de-emphasis on telling a real story. People want to criticize comic movies, but comedies have become the most formulaic genre out there these days. Create an amusing logline concept and attach stars, build up a bunch of big 'punchline' scenes that will play well in trailers, then weave in some basic semblance of a plot to connect it all together.
Rough Night... yet another entry in the 'things get wildly out of control' comedy subgenre and about the 20th film like this since The Hangover. Baywatch seemed like an attempt to '21 Jump Street' a different franchise.
I can't honestly think of the last big mainstream comedy that really felt surprising or fresh. I've been entertained and laughed at many of them, sure, but not in a way that felt like I'm seeing something new. I think much of this has to do with a de-emphasis on telling a real story. People want to criticize comic movies, but comedies have become the most formulaic genre out there these days. Create an amusing logline concept and attach stars, build up a bunch of big 'punchline' scenes that will play well in trailers, then weave in some basic semblance of a plot to connect it all together.
#28
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Can comedy on the big screen survive the super hero era?
I think much of this has to do with a de-emphasis on telling a real story. People want to criticize comic movies, but comedies have become the most formulaic genre out there these days. Create an amusing logline concept and attach stars, build up a bunch of big 'punchline' scenes that will play well in trailers, then weave in some basic semblance of a plot to connect it all together.
#29
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Can comedy on the big screen survive the super hero era?
yes
#30
Re: Can comedy on the big screen survive the super hero era?
Thinking about this some more I was trying to think what was the last true comedy I saw in the theater...I think it was 22 Jump Street 3 years ago. They are not just something that screams see me in the theater and I do typically wait for home video.
#32
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Re: Can comedy on the big screen survive the super hero era?
There will always be room for ALL films...PARTICULARLY GOOD FILMS because they will shine.
#34
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Re: Can comedy on the big screen survive the super hero era?
^Exactly. What's all this shit and hand wringing about the death of comedies? I heard another guy on radio talking about the death of Dramas thanks to Comic Films about 6mo ago. Get out of here...
#35
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Can comedy on the big screen survive the super hero era?
Precisely. Also, comedies are really hard to get right. They require a very precise alchemy. I'm not trying to diminish other genres, but melancholy biopic or tear jerking family drama, I'm not saying they're easy to make, but they're a lot easier than comedy. That's why there's 10 best picture nominees but there may only be one great comedy every 3-5 years.
Well, now I just don't know what to think.
Look, make a good comedy and people will go see it. People keep going to super hero movies because they deliver the goods (well, the MCU stuff does anyhow). It doesn't have to be G rated and doesn't have to be a hard R either. But it can be. It just has to be well written and funny.
#36
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Can comedy on the big screen survive the super hero era?
I think the biggest problem with comedy is the writing isn't nearly as funny as it was years ago (movies, tv, late night).
Where are the Harold Ramis, John Hughes, or even a Mel Brooks out there today for movies? Late Night is no better as the humor is just partisan jabs these days instead of original political skits. Go watch the SNL Presidential debates in 1988 &1992 compared to the past few election cycles. There are very few sitcoms that I watch either as the humor just feels forced in overrated comedies like Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Comedy didn't die because of the Superhero Movie, comedy died in Hollywood because there are very few funny comedians and writers compared to 20-30 years ago.
Where are the Harold Ramis, John Hughes, or even a Mel Brooks out there today for movies? Late Night is no better as the humor is just partisan jabs these days instead of original political skits. Go watch the SNL Presidential debates in 1988 &1992 compared to the past few election cycles. There are very few sitcoms that I watch either as the humor just feels forced in overrated comedies like Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Comedy didn't die because of the Superhero Movie, comedy died in Hollywood because there are very few funny comedians and writers compared to 20-30 years ago.
That has been my impression for years. I can't remember the last comedy movie that made me laugh until I cried. Probably Rat Race. Yet in the 80's, movies like Vacation were hysterical and original. They didn't have to rely on an over the top personality like Kevin Hart to get a laugh.
It's really pathetic when you compare a classic like Blazing Saddles to the modern attempts at a comedy western.
#37
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Can comedy on the big screen survive the super hero era?
i dunno, some have made money and surprised. Bad Moms comes to mind, Trainwreck, Bridesmaids,...
Hollywood does not make a lot of comedies period! Maybe if they made more the genre would be more popular.
They make maybe 5 or 6 a year and save them for the summer.
How many of the new DVD releases every Tues are comedies?
Maybe a direct to video title occasionally.
#38
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Can comedy on the big screen survive the super hero era?
I wasn't quite sure where to put this or if it should be it's own thread, but thought if just posting it here since it seemed relevant. I saw James Gunn link to this article on GQ (I know, but still...) with various directors about the movie industry.
http://www.gq.com/story/directors-wh...social_twitter
The portion on Superheroes -
http://www.gq.com/story/directors-wh...social_twitter
In a series of conversations, I spoke with that group—Ava DuVernay, Cary Fukunaga, James Gunn, Jeff Nichols, Jordan Peele, Dee Rees, Taylor Sheridan, and Edgar Wright (all pictured), plus Bong Joon Ho (Snowpiercer, Okja) and Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman)—about the industry’s changing dynamics and how they’ve learned to work inside and outside the system.
On the enemy
GQ: Do we hate superheroes?
DuVernay: I don’t watch enough of them to hate or love them, really. I’m interested in seeing ones that look different—somebody not named Chris. No disrespect to the Chrises out there. I love those Chrises.
Fukunaga: I think there’s so much room to re-interpret some of these stories. Chris Nolan does a pretty good job of being able to be inventive within the tentpole-movie sphere.
DuVernay: I thought we were going to see a lot more of the Nolan-type stuff, that felt very big and superhero but you were looking at something extremely cinematic and artful. It just didn’t go that way. They took the “big” part and left the rest behind.
Wright: I was at the ArcLight theater recently, and they had this big wall of posters of all the summer movies. The only two original movies were Baby Driver and Dunkirk. And I guess Dunkirk is based on World War II.
Gunn: It’s a total ripoff of World War II.
Wright: That’s the biggest IP of all time!
Gunn: That’s the first thing that’s really hurt cinema. It’s hard to get a movie made that isn’t something that everybody already knows. I think the even bigger thing than that is that these tentpole movies are driven by the dates they’re supposed to be released on, which means scripts are secondary.
GQ: Do we hate superheroes?
DuVernay: I don’t watch enough of them to hate or love them, really. I’m interested in seeing ones that look different—somebody not named Chris. No disrespect to the Chrises out there. I love those Chrises.
Fukunaga: I think there’s so much room to re-interpret some of these stories. Chris Nolan does a pretty good job of being able to be inventive within the tentpole-movie sphere.
DuVernay: I thought we were going to see a lot more of the Nolan-type stuff, that felt very big and superhero but you were looking at something extremely cinematic and artful. It just didn’t go that way. They took the “big” part and left the rest behind.
Wright: I was at the ArcLight theater recently, and they had this big wall of posters of all the summer movies. The only two original movies were Baby Driver and Dunkirk. And I guess Dunkirk is based on World War II.
Gunn: It’s a total ripoff of World War II.
Wright: That’s the biggest IP of all time!
Gunn: That’s the first thing that’s really hurt cinema. It’s hard to get a movie made that isn’t something that everybody already knows. I think the even bigger thing than that is that these tentpole movies are driven by the dates they’re supposed to be released on, which means scripts are secondary.
#39
Re: Can comedy on the big screen survive the super hero era?
Gunn: That’s the first thing that’s really hurt cinema. It’s hard to get a movie made that isn’t something that everybody already knows. I think the even bigger thing than that is that these tentpole movies are driven by the dates they’re supposed to be released on, which means scripts are secondary.0
#40
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Can comedy on the big screen survive the super hero era?
The theatrical film format is about offering something you can't get at home. Comedy and drama are just as effective on a home screen as in the theater.
Tv comes along. Movies go widescreen.
TV networks go color. Movies abandon b&w
Premium channels come along. Movies go stereo.
TV goes stereo. Movies go surround sound.
Home video comes along. Studios move to the big effects blockbuster.
One thing a comedy could have and still draw people is a big star. We don't have big stars anymore. If Tom Hanks made a comedy it would have a chance at theatrical hit.
Theatrical hits need to offer an experience that can't be duplicated at home. Big screen amusement park special effects.
As people move more toward viewing movies on smaller portable devices, the gap between theater and home viewing will grow greater, increasing the demand for big effect movies. The desire to see it first in a theater will increase. The gap isn't there with comedy.
Tv comes along. Movies go widescreen.
TV networks go color. Movies abandon b&w
Premium channels come along. Movies go stereo.
TV goes stereo. Movies go surround sound.
Home video comes along. Studios move to the big effects blockbuster.
One thing a comedy could have and still draw people is a big star. We don't have big stars anymore. If Tom Hanks made a comedy it would have a chance at theatrical hit.
Theatrical hits need to offer an experience that can't be duplicated at home. Big screen amusement park special effects.
As people move more toward viewing movies on smaller portable devices, the gap between theater and home viewing will grow greater, increasing the demand for big effect movies. The desire to see it first in a theater will increase. The gap isn't there with comedy.
#41
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
Re: Can comedy on the big screen survive the super hero era?
Technically I saw several movies on the plane. But let's face it, seeing Kong on a 9" screen on the back of a seat isn't exactly an immersive experience. Let alone trying to watch it on a phone which is worthless. You sacrifice a lot of quality for that convenience.
#42
Re: Can comedy on the big screen survive the super hero era?
Girls Trip came out this weekend and had the biggest opening weekend for a R-rated comedy in years. It's 88% fresh at RT, and has an A+ Cinemascore. I'm seeing it tomorrow; it looks hilarious!
#43
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Can comedy on the big screen survive the super hero era?
It is sad when Girls Trip will be the biggest comedy in 2017.
#44
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#45
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Can comedy on the big screen survive the super hero era?
I didn't read the article but I rarely, if ever, watch comedies on the big screen. This started LONG before superhero movies were popular.
I'd say it has more to do with movie ticket prices and weighing the cost of seeing a movie on the big screen vs. waiting for home video over anything else. Comedies just don't scream "must be seen on the big screen" like "event" movies.
Many times quality barely plays a role in it. A crappy Transformers will make triple what the funniest comedy of the summer does every time.
I'd say it has more to do with movie ticket prices and weighing the cost of seeing a movie on the big screen vs. waiting for home video over anything else. Comedies just don't scream "must be seen on the big screen" like "event" movies.
Many times quality barely plays a role in it. A crappy Transformers will make triple what the funniest comedy of the summer does every time.
#47
#48
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Can comedy on the big screen survive the super hero era?
Once you attach a big name to headline whatever script is laying around, it seems the comedy quality dips. Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Jim Carey, etc. The only exceptions that I can think of that seem to defy this is Bill Murray and Ben Stiller. Both have their duds, but are more consistent than most.
#49
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: Can comedy on the big screen survive the super hero era?
Just curious : what was the last straight-up (i.e. not Action-Comedy) non-animated comedy movie you guys went to see in a movie theater? For me, I think it was "Trainwreck". That was, what, 2 years ago?