Comedy that doesn’t make you laugh

A whole rash of films slated for the ‘comedy’ zone haven’t made me laugh. I mean, really laugh out loud. I may have chuckled once or twice, but a comedy is supposed to make me laugh, not snigger occasionally. Steven Wright makes you laugh every few seconds, so I expect a comedy movie to at least manage a number of consistent gags.

Many have been big hits, like The American Pie movies, the Road Trip genre, Meet Dave, Chuck and Larry and anything involving a teenager trying to lose their virginity, especially when friends are offering to help.

One sad fact comes before each of these types of movie; you know that all the best jokes were contained in the two minute trailer you just saw.

We need to define ‘what is comedy?’ Bend It Like Beckham was a great movie, but it was hardly a comedy, yet that became it’s genre. It was a wonderful screenplay with quality acting but it didn’t have you holding your stomach in place. Love Actually had a high number of quality chortle factors. Bill Nighy’s comedic timing was perfect throughout.

Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz have shown us a different type of joke recently. We laugh at the characters, not at the jokes. It’s what they do that is funny, not what they say, especially as they don’t intend to be amusing.

A young lady told me that she couldn’t wait to go and see the recent ‘Shopaholic’ film. Having seen the trailer I’d rather watch paint dry, so we must all accept that not everything appeals to everyone and one person’s amusement is another person’s cough. That’s why we talk about marketing and genre. That’s why movies are made to fit age ranges, sometime gender and often different types of humor. Some films are best seen after a few beers and some should be teetotal to gain the benefits.

Another of this ilk hits the silver screen soon. I Love You Beth Cooper, due summer 2009. The trailer is interesting, with a few almost jokes that might be funny. Here’s the trailer; you be the judge.

Airplane made me laugh, ripped my sides and kept me amused. There’s Something About Mary was funny. Monty Python’s Life Of Brian had me laughing consistently. What’s similar throughout these movies is the constant quality gags arriving on a regular basis. The Carry On films and the early Pink Panther pictures were dependable. Current movie makers appear to consider two or three average jokes placed 20 minutes apart will suffice for a big seller; just get a couple of big name stars and the dollars will follow.

Which films made you really laugh? Which made you want to repeat the jokes to friends who couldn’t understand the humor because they didn’t see the same visual content that aids the joke?

The screenwriting books are on their way

As I type I haven’t a definite hold on the final dates for the two books finalized yet. I’ll let you know when they are available.

Firstly, there will be a free ‘downloadable’ PDF book. This features an introduction to screenwriting for the new writer who doesn’t want to have to wade through a library of books to find out how to set the pen to paper, or rather the keys to the screen.

Secondly, my first book on the subject of writing your first screenplay, will be available worldwide in both hard copy and an e-version. This is an expanded version of the PDF version, but contains much more detail to help a new writer know what to look for in writing a screenplay; how to set it up and how to pitch it correctly, afterwards.

Does the world know I’m here?

I’m always amazed at how many people leave the original word-press post completely alone, unedited. It might even stay there for years. What if someone had thought to place an advert there? All bloggers in word-press would have seen the advert posted millions of times. What if you’d had a cent for every posting? What if you had a cent for every word you’d ever written?

Hey-ho; it’s all just a choice and we all know that humans like choice; screenwriting and mere mortals alike.