I didn't laugh once
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homergreg — 9 years ago(September 11, 2016 08:13 AM)
I loved the Naked Gun, and haven't seen Bridesmaids yet. It's just interesting how we're all different in what amuses us. It makes me wonder if there's any movie that has a combination of scenes that offers something for everyone and is somewhat timeless, at least in a common culture. Like in the case of the Naked Gun, there are people that are completely turned off by the Zucker style, not me, but there are some that just are not amused by it.
It all makes me wonder if there are people that prefer and only really get laughing at topical current event stuff that would soon be dated and unfunny to anyone who didn't remember the events. Or if there are people that just enjoy seeing pratfalls and slapstick, and so forth in the elements that tend to make people laugh. And wonder is there a movie that has some little piece in it that ends up getting to almost all of us?
My kids come up to me with their phones and say, "You've got to see this video, it's hilarious." And there's somebody that runs up to the camera and shouts some catchphrase then some meme drawing is flashed on the screen and my kids fall on the floor laughing. I try let out a sympathetic chuckle and after they leave make sure the video has at least some views to make sure they don't have some sort of humor brain damage, and sure enough, the video will have 1 million views, so at least it's shared damage amongst some peer group. I wonder if we have people that will just find that stuff funny, and are we so diverse that there's nothing what we all can really laugh at?
In Young Frankenstein, I see the comedy styles of Brooks and Wilder, so different but in this case, to me, complimentary, being something that casts a pretty wide net, but obviously it's not enough to get everyone laughing.
It just makes me wonder what work out there that has something in it somewhere that gets almost everyone to at least "laugh once". That's what intrigued me about your post, the title. What work out there gets as many as possible to "laugh once"? -
irishm — 9 years ago(September 12, 2016 07:13 AM)
This is the only Mel Brooks movie I ever really, truly, enjoyed. I've made it through others that were okay ("The Producers"), and there were some I really couldn't stand (among them, the ever-popular "Blazing Saddles".) I guess Brooks isn't really my cup of tea, but boy did he do a great job with "Young Frankenstein".
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gottaluvafriend — 9 years ago(October 01, 2016 11:20 AM)
Mel Brooks is one of those a person loves or hates. I wasn't a Brooks fan for a long time, but that was due to personal bias as an excuse for my own self-limitations. I wouldn't have been a Woody Allen fan except I was a fan of a friend who loved Allen. Historically, it's taken me a while to appreciate certain artists in movies, such as Nicholson, De Niro, Pacino. I'm less of a prude now, though, thank goodness. Goodness in art and in life is what matters.
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Trax-3 — 9 years ago(October 02, 2016 09:15 PM)
Mel Brooks is one of those a person loves or hates.
I don't love or hate him. His films have sure some truly memorable scenes and moments but they also have some annoying/unfunny filler and some memorable scenes and moments ALONE great cinema do not make. -
sawarrior — 9 years ago(October 15, 2016 04:15 PM)
This is the only Mel Brooks movie I ever really, truly, enjoyed. I've made it through others that were okay ("The Producers"), and there were some I really couldn't stand (among them, the ever-popular "Blazing Saddles".) I guess Brooks isn't really my cup of tea, but boy did he do a great job with "Young Frankenstein".
Watch The 12 Chairs -
canadazbest — 9 years ago(September 11, 2016 11:07 PM)
William, you got "pissed on", because you presented yourself as an "I'm 24 and married, (still don't understand what THAT has to do with ANYTHING - would your wife, or husband care to enlighten us? Are you married to a 76 year old, so you figure your mean age to be 50?) I can't think of any more life experiences I need" little millennial smart mouth. You inferred that those of us who disagreed with you don't understand comedy - for me, I'm fine agreeing to disagree, but I found you to be entirely devoid of acknowledging or respecting anyone else's opinion(s). And coming over to this thread to whine about it (imo) proves my point.
No hard feelings, young 'un
one day you'll understand.
Better to keep your mouth shut and be thought an idiot - than to open it and remove all doubt! -
canadazbest — 9 years ago(September 11, 2016 11:13 PM)
Oh yes, I'm curious - why did you delete two of the three replies you made to me? Possibly to avoid IMDb Admin sanctions? Lack of confidence (as in what you said would have resulted in more negative attention than you were prepared to handle?) Already under IMDb sanctions?
Better to keep your mouth shut and be thought an idiot - than to open it and remove all doubt! -
snelling — 9 years ago(October 15, 2016 06:48 AM)
I think if someone watches "What's Up, Doc?" with Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal and doesn't laugh even once, they should see a shrink or any other doctor for depression.
"'Extremely High Voltage.' Well, I don't need safety gloves, because I'm Homer SimpSzSzSzSzSz" - Frank Grimes -
eqxander — 9 years ago(September 12, 2016 07:34 PM)
Same here. I just saw it (recorded from TCM) and while certainly watchable, wasn't quite what I was anticipating. Mel Brooks is definitely NOT my "cuppa," I just find his humor slapstick and stupid, and to his credit (and Wilder's) the only stupid scene was "Putting on the Ritz."
The movie was enjoyable, just not particularly (for me) funny. But part of that might be that for some of us, the main jokes from the movie have become such cultural touchstones, that they're just not as funny as they originally were.
On the other hand, I recently watched the original "My Man Godfrey" with Carole Lombard and Bill Powell, and thought it was hilariously funny. Culture, span of timeas the French say, mise en place (everything in it's place.) -
KitchenKnives — 9 years ago(October 09, 2016 02:32 PM)
I guess that's me then. I like Marty Feldman, but Mel Brooks writes what I would call "easy comedy". The first (and usually simplest) punchline you can think of for any situation is the one he uses. The sort of thing you'd quip at a friend just to be annoyingly contrary, rather than impress them with your wit.
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scottrmartin — 9 years ago(October 15, 2016 06:24 PM)
I'm cultured, and I love old movies. Like the movies that this movie sends up. It's just the humor doesn't work for me at all. Abbott and Costello Meets Frankenstein is funnier than Young Frankenstein.
I do appreciate the recreations of the classic scenes though.