Media Conventions of Comedy in films

2. GENERATION OF LAUGHTER
• Laughter needs to be consistent throughout as it is the primary purpose
of the film.
• Everything needs to produce laughter.

3. HAPPY ENDING
• Without a happy ending a film cannot be called a comedy.
How to lose a guy in 10
The main character Andie is leaving the
city however Benjamin goes after her to
stop her from leaving. She then decides
to stay after hearing a few home truths
from him and they become a couple
which is the “Happy Ending” of the film.

4. COMIC SUSPENSE AND/OR SURPRISE
Surprise and suspense are used to produce laughter.
Johnny English:
Johnny English is an accidental secret
agent who has to go up against
international assassins in order to find
the Chinese Premier. However
disaster is always around the corner.

5. A LESSENING OF MOTIVATION
• Actions which produce laughter may be more coincidental and have
little to do with the narrative.
Dude, Where’s my
At this point Jesse and Chester
are ordering Chinese takeaway.
However when they order the
waiter constantly asks “And then?”
which produces laughter.

6. HUMOUR: VERBAL HUMOUR/ PHYSICAL ACTION
e.g. :
• Jokes
• Mispronunciations
• Wisecracks
• Slapstick (silly falls, certain types of intended physical abuse).
Home alone
Marv was the victim of
Kevin’s antics here
which showed a lot of
intended physical
abuse.

7. VERISIMILITUDE (BREAKING THE ILLUSION OF REALITY)
e.g. :
• Asides to camera
• Deviations from normal behaviour
• Breaking natural laws
Scott Pilgrim vs. The
Here Ramona Flower is fighting
against Roxy Ritcher however
here they break the natural
laws of nature when they are
fighting.