Comments on: Dear Comedy: It’s not funny anymore

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By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:49:28 +0000

True, every story has a problem-solution backbone running through it. Maybe it only bothers me when that backbone & related structure are so plain, like in a malnourished person. Lately I see it in so many films without even trying, as if I have x-ray vision. It’s becoming tedious — the same movie over and over again with different skin on it.
As for the endings, it does seem that in many comedies the protagonist often either becomes ridiculous through a sudden, unnatural change of personality or experiences an unbelievable set of circumstances that help to bring about the happy ending.

By: jason

jason — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:59:51 +0000

Well, I have to say, most of that structure doesn’t bother me. And I don’t think it’d bother you so much either, since it’s the structure of most great films, comedy or not. And of course there is a lot of variations found within that basic framework.

Here’s the real red flag though, if you’re seeing in often:

Through a ridiculous series of events, happenstance or uncharacteristic resolve, the protagonist overcomes.
Happy ending.

That’s going to make an audience feel cheated all the time. The ending has to feel earned and right. It can’t just happen, or seem ridiculous. That’s a real problem!