Friday, November 07, 2008

UK vs US: What's funny?

I could research definitions of comedy and funny to write an essay on the topic...and still no one would agree with me.

As individuals, we all know what we like. Personally, I have a taste for the more complex British comedies. where funny stuff happens while life continues on, in all its wonderful complexities.

The Full Monty (1997) (warning: couldn't find the trailer, so the clip below is the sports-movie-style fabulous SPOILER ending -- go rent the movie if you haven't seen it, don't ruin it for yourself!!)



Kinky Boots (2005)



Death at a Funeral (2007)



Now, according to my favourite movie news source (I let Gordon McAlpin sift through the movie geek news for me! And I follow his great webcomic Multiplex), Hollywood is doing a re-make of Death at a Funeral!! (Did you see the date on that film? A year old.)

Me (and all sane movie geeks): "What?! Was it not funny enough for you? Or could you not understand the foreign accent?"

"Oh, no. None of that. We just want to make it Chris Rock funny. All movies are better when we Americanize 'em."

Gads.

Lori

9 comments:

alejna said...

I should see Death at a funeral. The classic version, that is...(I think we have similar tastes in comedies.)

Lori said...

'tis a classic British comedy...life happens, along with funny stuff. Watch it in the original English. :-)

The Nag said...

I've seen all of these before. Now I want to see them again. Thanks.

Lori said...

Nag, I apologize for contributing to your time-wasting! :-)

Anonymous said...

"Americanize" = dumb it down, turn subtle comedy into broad slapstick, incorporate blatant product placement from Coke and McDonald's, and pepper with poop and fart jokes every few minutes.

Lori said...

Oh, Death at a Funeral has its own poop jokes...but they're British-ly done. (Funny + Sad)

Metro said...

Bit jingoistic on this blog lately, yeah?

Just remember, it's pure historic accident we weren't able to vote last week.

The USA has a number of things to reccomend it, including the tacky glory of its pop culture.

That said, I agree completely with the horror at the idea of remaking a great film for no other reason than to stick a bigger name in it, which I think is really the reason.

Anonymous said...

Please don't judge the U.S. sensibilities based soley upon the films of the Hollywood douchebag-genre. (For an exception, Terry Gilliam's "Brazil" is excellent.)

Lori said...

@metro
You're right...it's Hollywood, not the US that I'm agin' when it comes to simplistic movies/concepts. There are many great independent filmmakers in the US, and far too many Canucks in Hollywood.

@bunk strutts
I agree. The Hollywood money-making re-make/sequel/blockbuster-recipe engine that is losing my respect more and more every year.