Am i getting too old for Comedy movies?

Bells · 05-31-2012, 11:20 AM

in a stroke of luck i got my hands on a couple of movies from the "old days" that i have many fond memories of.

I got Top Shots 1 and 2 and Robin Hood Men in Tights. And i already have Dracula Dead and Lovin'it

And i recall these movies being funny back then when i was little, but i got to watch like, the first 15 minutes of each... and man, these movies are funny. Like, actually, trully funny. I've spend most of my time giggling at visual jokes and puns between the big laughs of the set pieces and dialogue. It's awesome!

I just... don't recall most movies capturing that formula anymore... i Mean, i like the Occasional William Ferrel movie, Anchorman is hilarious! But not in the same... i guess the world would be "tempo", the Rhythm. Just like Jim carrey movies, Liar Liar is one of my favorite movies of all time and it's the one i recall most closely resembling those older movies.

What caught my eye though was two things... first that the older movies all had similar formulas on how they were made (4th wall breaking, Playing Straight to a ridiculous scene neve pointing or explaining the gag) and they were also released much closer together.

While the new movies try to "blend" with a realistic story more and more often, trying for something closer to the "absurd of real life", so you get something like a very incompetent guy trying manual work instead of the same guy changing a light bulb using just a flaming whip 'cause why the fuck not...

Overall, nowadays i find it harder and harder to actually see a comedy that grabs me for more than half a week

Ecks · 05-31-2012, 11:32 AM

I just watched the original Austin Powers for the first time in years last night with my girlfriend, who has never seen it. Man, it aged pretty well. Dr. Evil was a little more stiff (he hasn't had a sample of Austin's mojo, as Spy Who Shagged Me hasn't happened yet), and Austin was very clearly still stuck in 1967 (Mike Myers is a fantastic actor, really). But it still told its story well, and we both laughed our asses off.

No bells, I don't think you're too old for comedy. I think most comedy today is just really fucking stupid. I will make an exception for American Reunion though, it was very true to form for the series, topped itself (yes, it topped Stifler eating dog shit) and still managed to create out-of-genre feels. Jim is still the awkward fuck who gets himself in completely unbelievable situations, Oz is still stuck between appearing to be a jock-type yet actually being a softie at heart, Kevin is still... Kevin, and Stifler is DEFINITELY still Stifler (points to his boss for managing to be a huger asshole than he is, though). And holy fucking shit, outta nowhere Eugene Levy breaks out of 'awkward dad' material and excels at being funny outside of the "Now Jim..." formula.

I think maybe some people try too hard and other people just aren't looking at the good examples of what and what not to do in a comedy.

CABAL49 · 05-31-2012, 11:34 AM

Pictured: Bells

Terex4 · 05-31-2012, 11:50 AM

I'm in the same boat. I never go to the movies anymore and I rarely pull up anything newer on Netflix. To be fair though, two of the movies you listed are Mel Brooks films and he's always had the comedy formula down.

Lumenskir · 05-31-2012, 12:12 PM

Quote:

What caught my eye though was two things... first that the older movies all had similar formulas on how they were made (4th wall breaking, Playing Straight to a ridiculous scene neve pointing or explaining the gag) and they were also released much closer together.

Well, yeah, because you've watched four films between two directors at the higher end of their influence* who based their entire career on gag-a-minute parodic slapstick. It's sort of like saying "Man, Dumb & Dumber, Kingpin, and Something About Mary all came out in the span of four years, how come we don't get a lot of that gross out absurd humor anymore?"

*Lower budget, higher concept parodies of popular franchises Division.

Seil · 05-31-2012, 12:29 PM

No.

You might, however, be too old for shitty comedies.

Flarecobra · 05-31-2012, 12:38 PM

You don't get too old for comidies, but perhaps your taste in humor has changed?

Marc v4.0 · 05-31-2012, 01:20 PM

at least Trading Places will never get too old to be hilarious

Professor Smarmiarty · 05-31-2012, 01:50 PM

You should watch Wall Street.
It's pretty funny when you not crying.

Menarker · 05-31-2012, 02:06 PM

Unfortunately, popular opinion would seems to be that comedy inherently does not count as "good movies".

05-31-2012, 11:20 AM	#1
Bells That's so PC of you Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In a Server-sided Dimension where time is meaningless Posts: 10,490	Am i getting too old for Comedy movies? in a stroke of luck i got my hands on a couple of movies from the "old days" that i have many fond memories of. I got Top Shots 1 and 2 and Robin Hood Men in Tights. And i already have Dracula Dead and Lovin'it And i recall these movies being funny back then when i was little, but i got to watch like, the first 15 minutes of each... and man, these movies are funny. Like, actually, trully funny. I've spend most of my time giggling at visual jokes and puns between the big laughs of the set pieces and dialogue. It's awesome! I just... don't recall most movies capturing that formula anymore... i Mean, i like the Occasional William Ferrel movie, Anchorman is hilarious! But not in the same... i guess the world would be "tempo", the Rhythm. Just like Jim carrey movies, Liar Liar is one of my favorite movies of all time and it's the one i recall most closely resembling those older movies. What caught my eye though was two things... first that the older movies all had similar formulas on how they were made (4th wall breaking, Playing Straight to a ridiculous scene neve pointing or explaining the gag) and they were also released much closer together. While the new movies try to "blend" with a realistic story more and more often, trying for something closer to the "absurd of real life", so you get something like a very incompetent guy trying manual work instead of the same guy changing a light bulb using just a flaming whip 'cause why the fuck not... Overall, nowadays i find it harder and harder to actually see a comedy that grabs me for more than half a week __________________ *BELLS STORE : Clothes! You wear* them! Free US Shipping Subscription System? WTF?! Zazzle Black!**

05-31-2012, 12:38 PM	#7
Flarecobra Burn. Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Classified Posts: 11,017	You don't get too old for comidies, but perhaps your taste in humor has changed? __________________ "Only the fool wishes to go into battle to beat someone for the satisfaction of beating someone." -A Thousand Sons Rules. Read them, know them, love them.

05-31-2012, 01:20 PM	#8
Marc v4.0 Fight Me, Nerds Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 3,470	at least Trading Places will never get too old to be hilarious __________________

05-31-2012, 02:06 PM	#10
Menarker OMG! WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW? Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 3,802	Unfortunately, popular opinion would seems to be that comedy inherently does not count as "good movies". __________________ THE BIO OF RENNY TRESSERHORN THE BIOs OF POKEMON UMBRAL! Last edited by Menarker; 05-31-2012 at 02:09 PM.

05-31-2012, 11:34 AM	#3
CABAL49 Not bad. Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Senatus Populusque Americanus Posts: 1,584	Pictured: Bells

05-31-2012, 12:29 PM	#6
Seil Super stressed! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: British Columbia Posts: 8,081	No. You might, however, be too old for shitty comedies.

05-31-2012, 01:50 PM	#9
Professor Smarmiarty Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: K-space Posts: 9,758	You should watch Wall Street. It's pretty funny when you not crying.