LOVED Shaun of The Dead.
Liked Hot Fuzz.
Where have the comedy films gone? Page 2
I thought Hot Fuzz was funny, and it was filmed near my godparent's house, so it was interesting to watch. Plus someone my cousin knows was in it briefly (he was the drunk kid with the cone on his head that Angel arrests near the beginning- A huge role, no?)
Quote: Griff @ June 28 2008, 11:06 AM BSTThey should have mentioned that in the publicity. "Filmed near Charly's godparent's house".
Damn right! 
Quote: Griff @ June 28 2008, 10:58 AM BSTI switched Shaun of the Dead off after about the first 20 minutes or something when I hadn't laughed once.
If you hadn't laughed by 20 minutes, then that's a very good decision.
Quote: Griff @ June 28 2008, 11:04 AM BSTBut getting back to the original poster's point, I guess British comedy films are a little thin on the ground, and those that are made are usually developed by or vehicles for existing talent - the Pegg films, Mitchell & Webb's movie, Borat, and the seemingly endless series of Mackenzie Crook disasters (Potato Men, I Want Candy, that London Underground thing).
exactly . i just don't understand how there's not more with all the comedy talent in this country. Can I point out that, BLACKBALL and Churchill, whatever it was called were bollocks. Film land its seems is juct like TV land, if your name ain't Richard Curtis or French and Saunders, you ain't getting nothing made.
The Hollywood Years, yes, Very Funny (sarcastic tone)
Peter Ricardson did some great stuff in The Comic Strip presents though. My personal favourites:
The Yob
The Bullshitters
Mr Jolly lives next Door
They don't make em like they used to
I thought 'The Cottage' was pretty funny (in a dark way), also 'In Bruges' (for the first half anyway). Not strictly comedy genre though. 'Superbad' is the funniest film I've seen in a while.
I can think of several reasons why there aren't more comedy films made:
1) Writing an hour and a half of comedy is hard. Even people at the top of their game struggle to fill a half hour sitcom without one or two lulls; and writing a film is a totally different skill to writing a sitcom. The sad truth is most writers can't write and whereas this inability may go unnoticed in a sitcom, it's harder to hide in a feature film.
People will put up with a sitcom which is funny but pointless, they won't stand for that in a feature film.
2) Making films is expensive. It's almost impossible to get a decent budget together in the UK. Investors are much more likely to fund films they believe will give them a good return - comedy is difficult to get right, hence it's a risky investment. Investors hope to get their money back, they don't want to waste it on something with no chance of ever making a profit ... that's the Film Council's job.
3) Most films made in the UK don't get a cinema release. Most aren't even good enough to get a DVD release. Most films which do get a cinema release don't make any money until they come out on DVD. Cinema is basically an expensive advert for the DVD. If a film doesn't get a cinema release it's unlikely to do well on DVD unless it's an Action film or a Horror - these genres have a big cult following with magazines which promote them to their fans. An Action or Horror film will sell well if it's D2DVD.
Comedy won't.
4) Since most comedies end up getting made for next to no money, and invariably have an awful script, they struggle to attract any named actors. Films with no 'names' in them will really struggle to make any money and will be incredibly lucky to get a DVD release. The chances of getting back the pittance sunk into them are next to nothing.
5) Making any film is hard. Once you have your named actors, your budget and your great script - you still have to deal with all the bitchy back-stabbing politics which happen on set. It can be a realy nasty environment with the f**kwits in charge, who have no clue how to do their job blaming, each other for their own failings. If it's an action film or a horror - that can lead to some great performances. If it's a comedy it just falls flat.
6) Comedy is subjective. You can have a great script, a great cast and even a reasonable budget - but if the critic reviewing it has had a bad day, failed to sleep with one of the actresses, hates the director, had an argument with his wife or falls asleep during the screening; he won't find it funny and will give it a bad review. Critics are complete pains in the arse, yet people believe what they say and will avoid a film which gets one or two bad reviews.
To sum up - it's hard to write a film, it's hard to get funding, it's hard to get it made and it's hard to get distribution. Horror and Action are almost guaranteed to make some money, somewhere - comedy isn't.
I scanned through that Phill and I agree with your points. It's almost the opposite with America in that their comedy films are a lot better than their sitcoms.
Quote: David Chapman @ June 30 2008, 11:55 PM BSTIt's almost the opposite with America in that their comedy films are a lot better than their sitcoms.
Not sure I agree with this. There's a lot of good American sitcoms at the moment - 30 Rock, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, American Dad, Big Bang, My Name Is Earl - but I can't think of too many good comedy films of the last twelve months.
Quote: Griff @ July 1 2008, 12:24 PM BSTSuperbad was funny.
Agreed -sort of. As was Juno. But a[part from that, I'm struggling to come up with many good films.
Superbad was hilarious. As was Knocked Up. That Apatow fella knows what's what. Discounting Drillbit Taylor and Walk Hard anyway.
Quote: David Bussell @ July 2 2008, 11:15 AM BSTSuperbad was hilarious. As was Knocked Up.
Superbad was great, Kncoked Up was only Ok for me; I just didn't find it funny enough.
Quote: chipolata @ July 1 2008, 12:21 PM BSTNot sure I agree with this. There's a lot of good American sitcoms at the moment - 30 Rock, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, American Dad, Big Bang, My Name Is Earl - but I can't think of too many good comedy films of the last twelve months.
I wasn't necessarily thinking of current films. It's just that the only TV shows of their's I generally like are the animated ones.