I don't like Hollywood comedy. Nearly all of them have the same simple backbone, and all the Owen Wilson (who I like) in the world can't improve them. The simple formula, which ties into the "beginning, middle, end" idea is "character has any emotion, character sinks into depression, character is far happier than ever. This fits most of these comedies; think of "Dodgeball", "Wedding Crashers" or "Starsky and Hutch" (the film).
It's understandable though. The series of events is perfect for relating to the audience, who, when watching a comedy generally like to leave on a high note, which is why the contrast from rock bottom to top of the world works so well. Still, every film having the same series of events makes a film too predictable (in my opinion). I want to see more films like "Monty Python's Life Of Brian". In my opinion, the last five minutes of that film had a far better pick-me-up than any Hollywood film I've ever seen. There's something about the nihilistic ending in the surreal world which makes me happier to be in our world.
I also thought about calling this post "Hollywood comedies: Behind the Ben Stiller!", but it was too much of a mouthful. It annoys me that most Hollywood comedies have the same actors, which have actually been given a group name, the "Frat Pack", which refers to Jack Black, Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson. As previously stated in another post, most Hollywood films are intended for a teenage male audience, and so having a male lead character is the best way to make the audience relate to them, which tends to be an appealing factor of a film to an audience. Seeing the same actors also makes the audience comfortable and it is instantly reassuring to see an actor that you know in an unknown film. This is the same principal for the generic plots in all of these sorts of films- it's familiar, which gives the film the same feel as other similar films.
In conclusion, all the same repeated things in films are for the same target audience, and while that exists, so will the films.
Friday, 21 November 2008
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