Thinking about the thread on whether 70s style sex romps were actually porn or comedy films? It got me thinking how many other cross over films there are out there.
I mean I watched Moonraker the other day; as a thriller it really isn't much cop. But as a comedy it's not bad and packed full of comedic characters. Where as The Boat That Rocked is more of an affectionate historical pastiche than a real comedy.
So what's the defining line between comedy and non-comedy?
I once laughed more at an episode of Rebus than at whatever sitcom I saw afterwards.
Intent.
Comedy intent?
Isn't that just Carry on Camping?
But I dunno I mean Moonraker, was it actually written as a thriller?
Badge is correct: intent to primarily be funny is what defines something as a comedy.
The 'comedy' label seems all too easily bandied about of late though. This is particularly evident with 'comedy drama', which seems to have replaced any notion of a light serial. If a series is being commissioned with suspense (and probably quite a bit of murder) it's put down as a straight drama; if it's just a story - a la Mount Pleasant - then it gets the comedy drama label.
I agree with you, Aaron, on the comedy label being handed out too readily. Particularly on DVDs for old movies - my copy of Penny Serenade is apparently a 'comedy drama' despite it being the bleakest and most heart-wrenching film I've ever seen. Similarly People Will Talk is described as a comedy even though it is squarely a dramatic film with brief moments of lightheartedness. I think whoever was in charge of classifying those films saw that Cary Grant was in them and just decided they must be comedies.
A comedy has to live up to it's label more, not many will complain if a drama has comedic moments but plenty will if a comedy has drama but not enough laughs.
So what about a soap like Emmerdale or Coronation Street where a very large amount of the story lines, are clearly humour directed?
Not a large enough amount though.
Quote: sootyj @ April 1 2012, 11:27 PM BSTSo what about a soap like Emmerdale or Coronation Street where a very large amount of the story lines, are clearly humour directed?
They are drama. Light drama, but drama. They use humour in order to portray aspects of the storylines, and to lighten the mood amongst the bleak settings they inhabit, but to go back to my original reply, the invocation of laughter is not the primary concern of either programme.
Coronation Street's an interesting one actually, as many of its original writers were from a squarely sitcom background, and it thus established itself from the off as including quite a bit of humour. It's a trend continued today with Jonathan Harvey of Gimme Gimme Gimme fame now a regular author of the series.
Quote: sootyj @ April 1 2012, 10:11 PM BSTSo what's the defining line between comedy and non-comedy?
I'd say context. There's funny stuff in Goodfellas that blackly comic but not comedy. There's stuff on Jackass that's funny to see but the same sight of someone in danger like that on the news would be horrific to see.
I don't think there's a defining line that seperates either, I think it's just one spectrum from Silly/Broad/Slapsticky/Old Time comedy all the way through to Dark/Satirical/questionable taste comedy through to where 'comedy' is sub-tacked onto another genre, comedy-drama, comedy-horror.
Quote: JackDaniels2 @ April 1 2012, 11:40 PM BSTI don't think there's a defining line that seperates either, I think it's just one spectrum from Silly/Broad/Slapsticky/Old Time comedy all the way through to Dark/Satirical/questionable taste comedy through to where 'comedy' is sub-tacked onto another genre, comedy-drama, comedy-horror.
I agree. Like music there are different types or genres of comedy and sometimes it mixes with others.
Something like Being Human can be serious in some parts, but also has other parts that are funny and light hearted.
Also the subjectivenes of what's good and bad could come in to it. With the exception of one episode, I've never found Seinfield funny or amusing. I don't "get" what's meant to be fuuny about it. Given that it is one of the most succesful shows in history though, clearly some people find it funny and or amusing.
Quote: reds @ April 2 2012, 12:37 PM BSTWith the exception of one episode, I've never found Seinfield funny or amusing.
Which one?
Quote: zooo @ April 2 2012, 12:47 PM BSTWhich one?
The one where they were waiting in line for something, and got banned. I think it was soup or a sandwich.
Ah right, I think I know the one you mean. I think you have to find the characters inherently funny to like Seinfeld (as not that much really happens) so if you don't, you don't!