From the Mind of Nate: My View on Modern Comedy and its Evolution

Intelligent comedies are hard to achieve. In order for a film to be considered as a clever comedy, it must be pure in laughs and pure in soul. Also, the actors and actresses in a smart comedy must be able to give a strong performance that is full in honest emotion and not just sailing through the screenplay. Furthermore, any comedy that is supplied in the film must be a combination of different forms; including physical verbal, and subtle. And, for all of that to be accomplished, it takes performers, writers, and directors who are completely knowledgeable and passionate about making people laugh as well as proving a point. And, if all of these feats are accomplished, I could see no reason as to why certain comedy films and performers should be eligible to receive significant awards. Henceforth, it is with extreme confidence and enthusiasm that I assert:

Comedic Films Have Evolved So Strongly That They Deserve Noteworthy Recognition

As I begin my argument, I would like to first explain that contemporary comedies have come a long way. From the mid-nineties to the early 2000’s, many of the mainstream comedic films playing on the big-screen were overly-juvenile and unrealistic capers headlines by the likes of Adam Sandler and Rob Schneider. These movies, such as Billy Madison, Mr. Deeds, and The Hot Chick, featured poor writing and contained acts of cheap slapdash humor that was aimed at young people. These actors mainly played one-dimensional characters that were either extremely short-tempered or extremely goofy in their behavior. All these actors basically read the lines of their scripts and put no effort into their roles. And while audiences laughed it up for years, it was clear to see how none of Adam Sandler’s or his cohorts’ films were worthy of accolades or even praise from critics. It should also be mentioned that most of these films were rated PG-13; most likely in an attempt to bring in large audiences. Unfortunately, while the crowds were large, the material supplied in the films were thin in every aspect; thus sacrificing the film’s value. Truly, comedic films were in a state of extreme uncertainty

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However, as the mid 2000’s approached, one man changed the face of comedy; by writing, directing, and producing films that mixed laugh-out-loud humor mixed with genuine susceptibility. This man was Judd Apatow; and in 2005, he made his directorial debut with "The 40-Year-Old Virgin". The film, which featured the breakout performance of former "Daily Show" personality Steve Carell, presented audiences an alternative to the types of PG-13 comedies that lack strong writing and strong character development: The Foulmouthed R-Rated Comedy with a Heart. The movie, which featured Carell playing a nice but socially-awkward guy whose friends were urging him to start an intimate relationship, was a big success and put Carell and Apatow front-and-center. It also showcased the great comedic skills of Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd; two comic actors who would eventually end up providing a sense of raw honesty in comedy. Henceforth, audiences were now able to identify with the characters in the films; thus winning fans and praise from critics.

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The significant success of "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" as well as 2007’s "Knocked Up", Apatow’s second directorial feature which headlined Rogen, lead to the coming-of-age high school comedy "Superbad"; which he produced and featured Jonah Hill and Michael Cera as the film’s leads. In addition, 2008’s hit romantic comedy "Forgetting Sarah Marshall", which Apatow also produced and starred Jason Segal, depicted the difficulty of getting over a break-up and the seriousness of maintaining a relationship; also received critical praise for the comedic and emotional performances of the performers. However, while these movies were very successful in providing audiences with laughs and high-flying emotions, none of them received any major rewards or nominations at all. But the seeds were in place for comedies that were to be released in the near future.

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While Judd Apatow brought about significant sensibility to the genre, other directors took comedic films and added their own touch to the genre. One such director, Todd Phillips, who helmed the successful 2003 frat-house comedy "Old School", brought forward the ultimate madcap R-rated comedy in 2009: The Hangover. The movie, which centered on a Las Vegas bachelor party gone horribly wrong, proved to be a massive success with both critics and audiences; thanks in large part to the casting of the skilled comic performers involved in the project. These actors, that included Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha, and, of course, the film’s official breakout star Zach Galifianakis, provided a strong chemistry that was funnier than some of the comedies of the past; their hilarious verbal and physical humor allowed you to root for them as they went from one crazy sequence to the next. And, while there were plenty of laugh-filled moments throughout the film; recurring themes of friendship, working-together, and marriage were brought up as well. And finally, thanks to Phillips’ directing, the writing, and, of course the great comedic timing and acting of the film’s great cast, the R-rated comedy eventually received both the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Comedy as well as the coveted Golden Globe for Best Comedy or Musical in 2010. Comedy had finally received significant recognition; but it wouldn’t stop here.

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While Judd Apatow and Todd Phillips successfully helmed hysterical-yet-honest R-rated films during the 2000s, the year 2010 did, in fact, feature quite a few significant and intelligent PG-13 comedies as well. In November 2010, Harrison Ford, Rachel MacAdams, and Diane Keaton headlined the smart newsroom comedy "Morning Glory" that proved to be a lighthearted comedy that brought insight along with laughs. In October, Bruce Willis, John Malcovich, and Helen Mirren starred in the fast-paced action-comedy "RED"; which brought forward many unexpected twists and turns as well as earning a Golden Globe nomination for Comedy or Musical. But, it was Director Will Gluck’s well-written and well-performed September-released comedy "Easy A" that showcased Emma Stone’s great breakout performance as a high school girl who must decide whether or not to come clean about a lie or allow it to advance her social status; which earned her a Golden Globe nomination as well as high praise from critics. The film also received a Critics’ Choice Award for Best Comedy this past January; thus proving once again that Perfect Comedy can be achieved if it’s featured acting, directing, and writing is high in quality. Most importantly, because of these films, the PG-13-rated comedy made a successful comeback in 2010 and showed that humor and cleverness can indeed mix well.

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Thus, humor has indeed come a long way since the mid-1990s. It is great to see how comedy has gone from making audiences laugh from unrealistic goofy humor to enlightening viewers with humor mixed with understanding. But while it is nice to see established performers as well as up-and-coming talents entertain people, it is nice to see how moviegoers have gotten more stylish over the years; as more and more comedies are coming out that rely on chemistry, good stories, and heart. Who knows what films are in store for us in the upcoming years? And even if the Academy Awards hardly ever recognize comedies; at least we can be safe in knowing that there are performers out there who care about making worthwhile films and making people feel enlightened as well as entertained.

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