2. STOCK CHARACTERS
Character types in comedies usually have a main
character and often a character that provides the
majority of the humour alongside the rest of the
group. They also usually are a group of friends
who have many misfortunes which result in the
basis of humour. Kickass illustrates this point.
In Superbad there is no particular ‘humourous’
character, each character provides different
characteristics. This happens a lot in comedies
because it increases the likelihood that one
character will appeal to the audience. Nerdy
characters are successful in comedies because
their lack of social skills and strange ideas seem
funny.
A lot of comedies focus on a group of friends; in a
lot of cases they are outcasts and a little bit odd. In
the case of The Inbetweeners Movie the four
friends are varied to appeal to different audience
types. Will is a logical realist and very intelligent,
Neil is a fool, Jay is very arrogant and Simon is
the most relatable and almost seems normal.
SUPERBAD
THE INBETWEENERS MOVIE
3. STOCK CHARACTERS
Family type characters are also popular in
comedies; though these are usually based for
family entertainment and less crude than
Superbad and The Inbetweeners Movie.
THIS IS 40
This appeals to an audience because nearly
everybody has a family and can understand and
relate to the film. The children usually fight and
fall out and the parents have to deal with it.
In the case of This Is 40 the children are
entertaining, they illustrate how children and wild,
unpredictable and funny. They are very lively so
this channels through to the audience.
Cheaper By The Dozen is a comedy about a
large family. Family life is hard for ordinary sized
families so the idea of it being larger and even
harder is comical.
There are many comedies that focus on family life
such as Home Alone and Despicable Me.
CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN 2
4. STOCK PLOTS
A common stock plot found in comedies is the
idea of a ‘new kid’ joining a ‘new school’ and
having to fit in with an added difficulty.
17 AGAIN
For example, in 17 Again the new student is
actually a middle aged man trapped in a teenagers
body ready to have another try at his life plan.
She’s The Man follows a new student trying to
achieve her goal of playing football for the school
team, however for the entirety of the film she has
to impersonate her twin brother.
These plots are popular because people find them
relatable as well as funny. The basic underlying
layer that they are a new student is something
most people have encountered. The added
difficulty is something to add interest to the story
and also embark the characters on weird and
wonderful adventures that are abnormal in reality.
The characters are often placed in strange and
awkward situations that people often find
hilarious.
SHE’S THE MAN
5. STOCK PLOTS
Another stock plot within the comedy genre is a
form of couples, struggling with love. This is
because most people encounter this within their
lives and the problems are often relatable but
presented in comical way that couples can then
laugh about and share the experience.
FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL
These plots often have a happy ending, whether
it’s that the couple find a way to be happy with
one another, or they find a better partner.
In What Happened in Vegas this couple are
forced together for money and after lots of
fighting discover they were meant to be.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall follows the main
character attempting to get over his ex, who is
happy in a new relationship, but then finds a
prettier, better new girlfriend.
Other films similar to these plots are Along
Came Polly and Knocked Up.
WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS
6. STOCK LOCATIONS
A lot of comedies do not have the budget that
comes with action or sci-fi movies. Because of
this they are usually based locally. This has an
added benefit as comedies are usually funny when
they are relatable.
Some comedies are based entirely around schools
– be the main character an adult or a child. This is
because most people have been in a school at
some point and the film makers have plenty of
choice to find their perfect location. In both Bad
Teacher and Easy A the characters remain
solely in very local territories such as homes, pubs
and the outdoors.
Locations like schools can provide a wide range of
people to introduce in the film.
A lot of comedies feature a school at some point
such as Superbad, Kickass, and 17 again.
They can provide plots and the contrast between
student and teacher can also be comical.
EASY A
BAD TEACHER
7. STOCK LOCATIONS
There are a selections of comedies that primarily
base their locations around a holiday resort. This is
often done because these sunny locations can
often adder a higher key of lighting and provide a
generally more energetic atmosphere.
THE INBETWEENERS MOVIE
People view comedies often to provide themselves
with an escape to the harsh realities and lack of
hilarity that lies in the real world. The idea of
going away on holiday adds emphasis to this
escapism. Couples Retreat adds elements of the
stock plots combined with this stock location.
FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL
Forgetting Sarah Marshall uses this stock
location to allow the main character to escape his
problematic life and take a break. The
Inbetweeners Movie is primarily orientated
around the characters opportunity to have fun in
this sunny, happy location.
Overall this stock location is used as it gives the
characters an opportunity to encounter new
situations and it provides positive mise-en-scene.
8. STOCK PROPS AND SIGNIFIERS
Props used in comedy films are generally less
predictive as they cover a variety of storylines.
This means that each film that is produced is
unique.
In many comedies alcohol is frequently used. This
is used as under it’s effects the characters are
usually more entertaining. They try new things
that don’t seems very logical or realistic. In the
case of The Hangover they spend the entire
film remembering what they did under the effects
of alcohol. Alcohol can be the basis of an entire
film easily – this is why some comedies are based
in Vegas as it is a prime place for drinking – for
example, What Happens In Vegas.
A new comedy called This Is The End features
the actors drinking at a party, although this isn’t
crucial to the storyline it is used as people
associate drinking with a good time. They assume
it is equal to fun, and laughter. It also makes the
characters say phrases they wouldn’t normally
admit out loud. What a person drinks can also say
a lot about the character.
THE HANGOVER
THIS IS THE END
9. MUSIC AND SOUND
Club and dance music can be incredibly popular in
comedies. The Inbetweeners Movie in
particular features a lot of dance music; this music
gives characters the opportunity to dance. It is
often heard in clubs when out and drinking, in this
way it ties with the stock prop of alcohol. This is
also apparent in What Happened In Vegas.
This music is always loud and doesn’t carry much
emotion. It is never in the minor key or carrying a
sad message. This is because these films are aimed
to bring people happiness.
Some comedies can even go that extra mile and
provide a musical number although this is far less
common. Ella Enchanted chose the song
‘Somebody To Love’, the songs are examples
where the message could be serious, but the tune
and the tempo of the song dismiss it. The Life of
Brian, although old, contains the song ‘Always
look on the bright side of the life’ – a very
positive, happy message that audiences watching a
comedy wish to hear.
WHAT HAPPENED IN VEGAS
THE INBETWEENERS MOVIE
