Comedy film

The first comedy film was L'Arroseur Arrosé (1895), directed and produced by Louis Lumière. The most noted comedy actors of the era were Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd, and Buster Keaton.

The anarchic comedy film, as its name suggests, is a random or stream-of-consciousness type of humour which often lampoons a form of authority.[4] The genre dates from the silent era, and the most famous examples of this type of film would be those produced by Monty Python.[5] Others include Duck Soup (1933) and National Lampoon's Animal House (1978).

Gross out films are a relatively recent development and rely heavily on vulgar, sexual or "toilet" humor. They often containing a healthy dose of profanity.[6] Examples include Porky's (1982), Dumb and Dumber (1994), There's Something About Mary (1998), and American Pie (1999).

This sub-type uses comedy to explore serious ideas such as religion, sex or politics.  Often the characters represent particular divergent world views and are forced to interact for comedic effect and social commentary.[7]  Some examples include: Bob Roberts (1992) and MASH (1970).

A comedy of manners satirizes the manners and affectations of a social class, often represented by stock characters. Also, satirical comedy-drama & the plot is often concerned with an illicit love affair or some other scandal. However, the plot is generally less important for its comedic effect than its witty dialogue. This form of comedy has a long ancestry, dating back at least as far as Much Ado about Nothing created by William Shakespeare.[8] Examples for comedy of manners films include Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) and Under the Tuscan Sun (2003).

The black comedy film deals with normally taboo subjects, including death, murder, crime, suicide, and war, in a satirical manner.[9] Examples include Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), Monsieur Verdoux (1947), Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), The Ladykillers (1955), Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964), The Loved One (1965), MASH (1970), The King of Comedy (1983), Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983), Brazil (1985), After Hours (1985), The War of the Roses (1989), Heathers (1989), Your Friends & Neighbors (1998), Keeping Mum (2005), Burn After Reading (2008), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri (2017) and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).

Farcical films exaggerate situations beyond the realm of possibility – thereby making them entertaining.[10]  Film examples include: In the Loop (2009) and Some Like it Hot (1959).

These films find humor in the common practices of everyday life.[11]  Some film examples of observational humor include: Carnage (2011) and The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002).

A parody or spoof film satirizes other film genres or classic films. Such films mock-u-mentary, employ sarcasm, stereotyping, mockery of scenes from other films, and the obviousness of meaning in a character's actions.[12] Examples of this form include Mud and Sand (1922), Blazing Saddles (1974), Airplane! (1980), Young Frankenstein (1974), Spaceballs (1987), and Scary Movie (2000).

Humor that is primarily derived from sexual situations and desire,[13] such as Choke (2008) and Knocked Up (2007).

Humor that comes from knowing a stock group of characters (or character types) and then exposing them to different situations to create humorous and ironic juxtaposition;[14] case in point: Galaxy Quest (1999) and Madea's Big Happy Family (2011).

This broad sub-type applies to films that do not attempt a specific approach to comedy but, rather, used comedy for comedic sake.[15]  Clueless (1995) and Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) are examples of straight comedy films.

Slapstick films involve exaggerated, boisterous action to create impossible and humorous situations. Because it relies predominately on visual depictions of events, it does not require sound. Accordingly, the subgenre was ideal for silent movies and was prevalent during that era.[1] Popular silent stars of the slapstick genre include Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, Roscoe Arbuckle, and Harold Lloyd. Some of these stars, as well as acts such as Laurel and Hardy and the Three Stooges, also found success incorporating slapstick comedy into sound films. Modern examples of slapstick comedy include Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007) and The Three Stooges (2012).

Storytelling that includes behavior and storytelling techniques that are illogical; includes bizarre juxtapositions, absurd situations and unpredictable reactions to normal situation;[15] for instance:  Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) and Swiss Army Man (2016).

Films in this genre/type blend comic antics and action where the stars combine one-liners with a thrilling plot and daring stunts. The genre became a specific draw in North America in the eighties when comedians such as Eddie Murphy started taking more action-oriented roles such as in 48 Hrs. (1982) and Beverly Hills Cop (1984).

Sub-genres of the action comedy (known as macro-genres in the Screenwriters Taxonomy) include:[3]

Slapstick martial arts films became a mainstay of Hong Kong action cinema through the work of Jackie Chan among others. Kung Fu Panda is an action comedy that focuses on the martial art of kung fu.

Some action films focus on superheroes; for example The Incredibles, Hancock, Kick-Ass, and Mystery Men.

Another category of the action comedy (considered a Pathway in the Screenwriters Taxonomy[3]) include:

Films starring mismatched partners for comedic effect, such as in Midnight Run, Rush Hour, 21 Jump Street, Bad Boys, Starsky and Hutch, and Hot Fuzz.

Crime comedies combine humorous elements with the mystery of solving or committing a crime as its central premise. Though the combination arguably peaked in the 1930s and 1940s, comedy-mystery films have been continually produced since.[16] Examples of crime comedies include: Oh Brother Where Art Thou? (2000), Take the Money and Run (1969) and Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988).

Fantasy comedy films use magic, supernatural or mythological figures for comic purposes. Some fantasy comedy includes an element of parody, or satire, turning fantasy conventions on their head, such as the hero becoming a cowardly fool or the princess being a klutz. Examples of these films include The Chipmunk Adventure, Big, Being John Malkovich, Ernest Saves Christmas, Ernest Scared Stupid, Night at the Museum, Groundhog Day, Click, and Shrek.

Comedy horror is a genre/type in which the usual dark themes and "scare tactics" attributed to horror films are treated with a humorous approach. These films either use goofy horror cliches, such as in Scream, Young Frankenstein, Little Shop of Horrors, Haunted Mansion, and Scary Movie where campy styles are favored. Some are much more subtle and don't parody horror, such as An American Werewolf in London. Another style of comedy horror can also rely on over-the-top violence and gore such as in The Evil Dead (1981), Re-Animator (1985), Braindead (1992), and Club Dread (2004) – such films are sometimes known as splatstick, a portmanteau of the words splatter and slapstick. It would be reasonable to put Ghostbusters in this category.

Day-in-the-life films takes small events in a person’s life and raises their level of importance.  The “small things in life” feel as important to the protagonist (and the audience) as the climactic battle in an action film, or the final shootout in a western.[3]  Often, the protagonists deal with multiple, overlapping issues in the course of the film – just as we do in life.[3]  The day-in-the-life comedy often finds humor in commenting upon the absurdity or irony of daily life; for example The Terminal (2004) or Waitress (2007).  Character humor is also used extensively in day-in-the-life comedies, as can be seen in American Splendor (2003).

Romance comedies are humorous films with central themes that reinforce our beliefs about love (e.g.: themes such as “love at first sight”, “love conquers all”, or “there is someone out there for everyone”); the story typically revolves around characters falling into (and out of, and back into) love.[17]  Frozen (2013), The Lobster (2015) and Some Like It Hot (1959) are examples of Romance Comedies.

According to screenwriter and scholar Eric R. Williams, romance comedies are different from Romantic Comedies (or RomComs).[17] All romcoms are romance comedies, but not all romance comedies are romcoms.  A romantic comedy is a macro-genre in the Screenwriters Taxonomy.[3] Similarly, screwball comedies (a pathway in the screenwriters taxonomy) is often misconstrued as a romance comedy, when in fact it is a category unto itself.[3]

Some film categories that use the word “comedy” or “drama” are not recognized by the Screenwriters Taxonomy as either a film genre or a film type.  For instance, “Screwball Comedy” is considered a Pathway, while “Romantic Comedy” is a macro-genres.  Both are often misconstrued as romance comedies.[17]

In a romcom, the audience often recognizes that the two characters are “perfect” for each other, even though the characters themselves do not; the story revolves around the misunderstandings and is told with a light and humorous touch.[2]  There are five Romantic Comedy micro-genres: Adult, Child, Non-conventional, Re-marriage, and Teen.[3]

Examples of the romantic comedy subgenre include It (1927), City Lights (1931), It Happened One Night (1934), My Favorite Wife (1940), Some Like It Hot (1959), Charade (1963), Annie Hall (1977), When Harry Met Sally... (1989), Pretty Woman (1990), Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), and There's Something About Mary (1998).

A screwball comedy appears to focus on the story of a central male character until a strong female character takes center stage; at this point, the man’s story becomes secondary to a new issue typically introduced by the woman; this story grows in significance and, as it does, the man’s masculinity is challenged by the sharp-witted woman, who is often his love interest.[3]  Typically it can include a romantic element, an interplay between people of different economic strata, quick and witty repartee, some form of role reversal, and a happy ending. Some examples of the screwball comedy are: It Happened One Night (1934), Bringing Up Baby (1938), The Philadelphia Story (1940), His Girl Friday (1940), and more recently, What's Up, Doc? (1972).

Science fiction comedy films often exaggerate the elements of traditional science fiction films to comic effect. Examples include Back to the Future, Spaceballs, Ghostbusters, Evolution, Innerspace, Galaxy Quest, Mars Attacks!, Men in Black, and The World's End.

Obviously, in the sports super-genre, characters will be playing sports. Thematically, the story is often one of “Our Team” versus “Their Team”; their team will always try to win, and our team will show the world that they deserve recognition or redemption; the story does not always have to involve a team.[2]  The story could also be about an individual athlete or the story could focus on an individual playing on a team.  The comedic aspect of this super-genre often comes from physical humor (Billy Madison - 1995), character humor (Caddyshack - 1980), or the juxtaposition of bad athletes succeeding against the odds (The Bad News Bears - 1976).

Comedy thriller is a genre/type that combines elements of humor and suspense. Films such as Silver Streak, Charade, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, In Bruges, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Grosse Point Blank, The Thin Man, The Big Fix, and The Lady Vanishes.

War films typically tells the story of a small group of isolated individuals who – one by one – get killed (literally or metaphorically) by an outside force until there is a final fight to the death; the idea of the protagonists facing death is a central expectation in a war film.[18] War comedies infuse this idea of confronting death with a morbid sense of humor.  In a war film even though the enemy may out-number, or out-power, the hero, we assume that the enemy can be defeated if only the hero can figure out how.[19]  Often, this strategic sensibility provides humorous opportunities in a war comedy. Examples include Good Morning, Vietnam, M*A*S*H, the Francis the Talking Mule series, and others.

Films in the western super-genre often take place in the American Southwest or in Mexico, with a large number of scenes occurring outside so we can soak in nature’s rugged beauty.[2]  Visceral expectations for the audience include fistfights, gunplay, and chase scenes.  There is also the expectation of spectacular panoramic images of the countryside including sunsets, wide open landscape and endless deserts and sky.[3]  Western comedies often find their humor in specific characters (Three Amigos - 1986), in interpersonal relationships (Lone Ranger - 2013) or in creating a parody of the western (Rango - 2011).