Warm-up: Think of a time or a scene in a movie when you laughed so hard you cried, peed, or just could barely breathe. 1) In a few brief sentences, describe what it was that made you laugh so hard. 2) What did you find so funny about the situation that made you laugh so hard? (Did something happen that was not at all what you expected? Did somebody/something make a mistake that was hilarious? Did somebody make a play on words that was unintentional or comical? Was something so disgusting, inappropriate and outrageous that you couldn’t help but laugh, etc.)

 Reminder: All homework and class work questions are always due the day after the movie is finished being viewed.

 Take notes and title them “The Elements of Comedy”  Don’t forget to keep all notes in a safe place, with the date and title written on them (they’ll be collected at the end of the semester).

 Comedy Films are "make 'em laugh" films designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are light- hearted dramas, crafted to amuse, entertain, and provoke enjoyment. The comedy genre humorously exaggerates the situation, the language, action, and characters. Comedies observe the deficiencies, foibles, and frustrations of life, providing merriment and a momentary escape from day-to-day life. They usually have happy endings, although the humor may have a serious or pessimistic side.

 There are various TYPES of humor (i.e. reasons why we laugh). In the next 3 slides, some of these types are listed…

 Laugh-at-life humor : Laughter at the problems that some encounter in life. Those who appreciate this humor find the absurd in a real life situation —then laugh.  Slapstick comedy : Slapstick comedy relies on physical humor, pranks and absurd situations for laughs. This type of humor involves someone running into a pole, falling into a pool or a Whoopee cushion on a chair.  Sarcasm: Humor that is dark, biting and sharp. It includes bitter, mocking comments on the stupidity, absurdity, or ridiculousness of life. The Three Stooges slapstick comedy

 Self-deprecating humor : Humor in which one makes fun of themselves. Those who like this humor like to play the clown and feel some kinship with famously self-deprecating comedians (i.e. Chris Farley).  Dry/Deadpan humor : Hysterically funny statements or situations in which the joker (or person experiencing the situation) doesn’t crack a smile or raise an eyebrow  Highbrow/ Witty humor : Clever jokes full of wit. It includes brilliant one-liners that are made much funnier because it is true or relevant, but no one else thought of it first. Steve Carell play the part of a boss who loves to make jokes in the style of Deadpan Humor in The Office

 “Bathroom” humor (“lowbrow” humor) : Fart jokes, sexual jokes, gross/gory occurrences, or situations that make one squirm are found hysterical.  Cultural references : Those appreciate this humor like to have a movie quote for every situation in life, it seems. Even when others haven’t even heard of the film/book/song/speech, etc. that one is quoting from.  Jokes at others’ expense : Humor found in making fun of others. It includes ridicule, teasing, and sarcasm. Famous example of bathroom humor in There’s Something About Mary

 Sub-genres of Comedies :  Comedy hybrids commonly exist between comedies other major genres  Ex.: musical-comedy, horror-comedy, comedy-thriller.  Comedies have also been classified in various subgenres, such as romantic comedy, crime/caper comedy, sports comedy, teen or coming-of-age comedy, social-class comedy, military comedy, fish-out-of-water comedy, and gross-out comedy.  Different TYPES or forms of comedy films include:

 Slapstick= universal comedy with aggressive, physical, and visual action, including harmless or painless cruelty and violence, horseplay, and vulgar sight gags (e.g., a pie in the face, a fall in the ocean, a loss of pants, runaway crashing cars, people chases, etc). Found in the early silent films which didn't need sound to be effective. Activities go beyond the bounds of common sense.  Type of humor: Slapstick humor  Examples: The Three Stooges; Ace Ventura, Pet Detective, The Pink Panther, Don’t Mess with the Zohan, Home Alone, Cartoons (i.e.: “The Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote”) 

 Deadpan = while absurd and hilarious situations occur around a character, the character does not crack a smile or change facial expression. We then laugh at the irony– the humor contrasted with the lack of humor on the behalf of the character.  Examples: Steve Carrel in The Office, Stephen Colbert in The Daily Show, Leslie Neilson in Airplane! and Naked Gun movies, Buster Keaton films,  Type of humor:  Dry/Deadpan humor  YouTube example: g

 Verbal comedy: Movies in which the clever dialogue and/or witty jokes create the majority of the humor.  Type of humor:  High brow humor  Cultural relevance humor  Laugh-at-life humor  Self- depricating humor  Bonding in-the-moment humor  Examples: Woody Allen films (Annie Hall); When Harry Met Sally  lated

 Screwball : a sub-genre of romantic comedy films, (predominant in mid-1930s-40s). The word 'screwball' suggests lunacy, ridiculousness, and erratic behavior. Often light-hearted, sophisticated, romantic stories, focusing on a battle of the sexes in which males/females try to outwit each other. They include visual gags, wacky characters, identity reversals (or cross-dressing), a fast- paced unlikely plot, wise dialogue & one-liners with sexual tensions.  Types of humor:  Slapstick  Laugh-at-life humor  Highbrow/witty humor  Jokes at others expense  Self- deprecating humor  Examples: Some Like It Hot, It Happened One Night, How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, Married with Children 

 Spoof / Satire, Lampoon and Farce : the majority of the film is spent making fun of other movies. This is usually achieved through elements such as mockery, stereotyping and sarcasm of the characters, film techniques, themes, plotlines, etc. of more serious films.  Example: Robinhood: Men in Tights, Scary Movie, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Walk Hard: A Dewey Cox Story  Types of humor:  Sarcasm  Bathroom humor  Cultural Reference humor  Jokes at others expense 

 Dark Comedy (a.k.a.: black humor or black comedy): a sub- genre of comedy and satire in which topics and events that are usually regarded as taboo (i.e.: death, rape, murder, affairs, human annihilation or domestic violence) are treated in a satirical or humorous manner.  Type of humor:  Sarcasm  Self-Deprecating Humor  Highbrow Humor  Examples: Dr. Strangelove, The Big Lebowski, Harold and Maude, American Psycho, I Heart Huckabees, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Sunset Boulevard, The Royal Tenenbaums  Example:

 Gross-Out Comedy elements such as toilet humor are routinely used. In many cases, gross-out comedies achieve great success at the box office.  Type of humor:  Bathroom Humor  Lowbrow Humor  Examples: There’s Something About Mary, American Pie, and Dumb and Dumber.  Example:

 Comedy of Manners – This type of comedy film pokes fun at a particular type of social class (usually the upper class). Strong and snappy dialogue is often emphasized over the actual details of the plot.  Type of humor:  Laugh at others humor  Examples include: Much Ado About Nothing, Emma, Clueless and Mean Girls  Example:

One important comedy device:  Pregnant Pause: A technique in which something comical may have been said or done, but a pause is written into the script before the actors react.  This pause makes the comical statement/action more comical. 