I think this is a great analysis of the jokes in this movie, but I do wish the entire movie followed these prompts, for lack of a better word -- the sentimentality feels like a gutless backtrack compared to the book. I'm a big fan of Percival Everett, and this adaptation is considerably less manic than the book.
I will add that I don't think I've read anyone say anything about the commentary of casting Adam Brody in this particular role, since for years he was an actor stuck playing The (Really) White Guy in a series of movies with predominantly Black casts. Like he wasn't just playing a white guy in those movies (which were frequently a dime a dozen), he was playing THE white guy. For me, it added another layer to every gag in which he was involved. But again, perhaps I'm adding a layer of cinema literacy that just isn't there.
Agreed re: less manic, although having read the book myself, I'm not sure if it's possible to cinematically adapt it without being loose. I would like to see someone try, but I ultimately think that focus on Black love and joy is a fantastic way to reckon with the personal plight of Monk and the material's wider subject matter.
As for your observation about Adam Brody, that cinematic layer absolutely does exist, and it exists because you created it. Cue that one Ready Player One quote.
Great insights on the workings of comedy, and I especially love the phrase "intelligent comedy" (aka recognizably functional comedy vs. just what any rando personally finds funny.)
I've long argued to writers that comedy is a specific skillset, that most people really can't just "write a rom com" or a satire when they've never focused on the genre before. This rarely seems to stop them from churning out stories stuffed with obvious situational and potty humor and little else, sigh...
It also explains why extremely "conservative" or "right wing" comedy for the most part doesn't exist to larger audiences - they say reality has a liberal bias, and so this POV of what's funny is often anti-irony, or inverse irony, the context that would make it intelligent comedy flipped on its head to where it's just mean-ass taking points that some people will laugh along with but there is no structural humor to be had there, and in fact a funhouse mirror distortion of it.
I've been lucky enough to befriend a handful of standup comedians in my life, and I'm consistently in awe of that very skillset you mention here. I find the observable nuances of comedy endlessly compelling, particularly when it intersects with an also-observable dramatic core. Nicole Holofcener's 'You Hurt My Feelings' is another masterful example.
Per your third paragraph there, I'm morbidly fascinated by comedians who don't seem to realize that in order to say something clever or witty about a particular topic, you actually have to be somewhat knowledgeable about the topic. With the alt-right's commitment to disinformation and mean-spirited ignorance, they fall long before the first comedic hurdle.
I think this is a great analysis of the jokes in this movie, but I do wish the entire movie followed these prompts, for lack of a better word -- the sentimentality feels like a gutless backtrack compared to the book. I'm a big fan of Percival Everett, and this adaptation is considerably less manic than the book.
I will add that I don't think I've read anyone say anything about the commentary of casting Adam Brody in this particular role, since for years he was an actor stuck playing The (Really) White Guy in a series of movies with predominantly Black casts. Like he wasn't just playing a white guy in those movies (which were frequently a dime a dozen), he was playing THE white guy. For me, it added another layer to every gag in which he was involved. But again, perhaps I'm adding a layer of cinema literacy that just isn't there.
Fromtheyardtothearthouse.substack.com
Agreed re: less manic, although having read the book myself, I'm not sure if it's possible to cinematically adapt it without being loose. I would like to see someone try, but I ultimately think that focus on Black love and joy is a fantastic way to reckon with the personal plight of Monk and the material's wider subject matter.
As for your observation about Adam Brody, that cinematic layer absolutely does exist, and it exists because you created it. Cue that one Ready Player One quote.
Hypotheses non fingo
Great insights on the workings of comedy, and I especially love the phrase "intelligent comedy" (aka recognizably functional comedy vs. just what any rando personally finds funny.)
I've long argued to writers that comedy is a specific skillset, that most people really can't just "write a rom com" or a satire when they've never focused on the genre before. This rarely seems to stop them from churning out stories stuffed with obvious situational and potty humor and little else, sigh...
It also explains why extremely "conservative" or "right wing" comedy for the most part doesn't exist to larger audiences - they say reality has a liberal bias, and so this POV of what's funny is often anti-irony, or inverse irony, the context that would make it intelligent comedy flipped on its head to where it's just mean-ass taking points that some people will laugh along with but there is no structural humor to be had there, and in fact a funhouse mirror distortion of it.
I've been lucky enough to befriend a handful of standup comedians in my life, and I'm consistently in awe of that very skillset you mention here. I find the observable nuances of comedy endlessly compelling, particularly when it intersects with an also-observable dramatic core. Nicole Holofcener's 'You Hurt My Feelings' is another masterful example.
Per your third paragraph there, I'm morbidly fascinated by comedians who don't seem to realize that in order to say something clever or witty about a particular topic, you actually have to be somewhat knowledgeable about the topic. With the alt-right's commitment to disinformation and mean-spirited ignorance, they fall long before the first comedic hurdle.
Right on with this!
"We can examine the function of a comedic framework and appreciate that, even if we don’t laugh at the joke."
I have done this in my writing on animation, considering that at least 60% of it has been made with the intention of it being viewed as comedy.