Comedy film

A comedy film is a film laced with humor or that may seek to provoke laughter from the audience. Along with drama, horror and science fiction, comedy is one of the largest genres of the medium.

Related Topics:
Film - Humor - Laughter - Drama - Horror - Science fiction - Comedy - Genre

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A comedy of manners film satirizes the manners and affectations of a social class, often represented by stock characters. The plot of the comedy is often concerned with an illicit love affair or some other scandal, but is generally less important than its witty and sometimes bawdy dialogue. This form of comedy has a long ancestry, dating back to Much Ado about Nothing by William Shakespeare.

Related Topics:
Comedy of manners - Much Ado about Nothing - William Shakespeare

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In a fish out of water comedy film the main character, or characters, finds himself in an alien environment and this drives most of the humor in the film. Such films can be portrayals of opposite gender lifestyle, such as in Tootsie (1982); adults swapping roles with a kid, as in Big (1988); a freedom-loving individual fitting into a structured environment, as in Police Academy (1984), and so forth.

Related Topics:
Fish out of water comedy film - Tootsie - 1982 - Big - 1988 - Police Academy - 1984

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A parody or spoof film is a comedy that satirizes other film genres or classic films. Such films employ sarcasm, stereotyping, mockery of scenes from other films, inconsequential violence, and the obviousness of meaning in a character's actions. Examples of this form include Blazing Saddles (1974), Airplane! (1980), and Young Frankenstein (1974).

Related Topics:
Parody or spoof film - Blazing Saddles - 1974 - Airplane! - 1980 - Young Frankenstein

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The anarchic comedy film uses nonsensical, stream-of-consciousness humor which often lampoons some form of authority. Films of this nature stem from a theatrical history of anarchic comedy on the stage and in street performances. Well-known films of this sub-genre include National Lampoon's Animal House (1978) and Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975).

Related Topics:
Anarchic comedy film - National Lampoon's Animal House - 1978 - Monty Python and the Holy Grail - 1975

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The black comedy is based around normally taboo subjects, including, death, murder, suicide and war. Examples include Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), The Ladykillers (1955), The Loved One (1965), Monty Python's the Meaning of Life (1983) and The War of the Roses (1989).

Related Topics:
Black comedy - Taboo - Arsenic and Old Lace - 1944 - Kind Hearts and Coronets - 1949 - The Ladykillers - 1955 - The Loved One - 1965 - Monty Python's the Meaning of Life - 1983 - The War of the Roses - 1989

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Gross-out films are a relatively recent development, and rely heavily on sexual or "toilet" humour. Example of these movies include American Pie (1999), There's Something About Mary (1998), and Dumb and Dumber (1994).

Related Topics:
Gross-out film - American Pie - 1999 - There's Something About Mary - 1998 - Dumb and Dumber - 1994

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The romantic comedy sub-genre typically involves the development of a relationship between a man and a woman. The stereotyped plot line follows the "boy-gets-girl", "boy-loses-girl", "boy gets girl back again" sequence. Naturally there are innumerable variants to this plot, and much of the generally light-hearted comedy lies in the social interactions and sexual tensions between the pair. Examples of this style of film include Pretty Woman (1990), It's a Wonderful World (1939), The Shop Around the Corner (1940),

Related Topics:
Romantic comedy - Pretty Woman - 1990 - It's a Wonderful World - 1939 - The Shop Around the Corner - 1940

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When Harry Met Sally (1989), and Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994).

Related Topics:
When Harry Met Sally - 1989 - Four Weddings and a Funeral - 1994

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It was not uncommon for the early romantic comedy film to also be a screwball comedy film. This form of comedy film was particularly popular during the 1930s and 1940s. There is no concensus definition of this film style, and it is often loosely applied to slapstick or romantic comedy films. 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), His Girl Friday (1940), and more recently What's Up, Doc? (1972).

Related Topics:
Screwball comedy film - It Happened One Night - 1934 - Bringing Up Baby - 1938 - His Girl Friday - 1940 - What's Up, Doc? - 1972

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• Anarchic comedy film
• Comedy of manners
• Fish out of water comedy film
• Gross-out film
• Parody film
• Romantic comedy film
• Screwball comedy film