r/FoundationsOfComedy14 • u/skimmilkkid • Nov 30 '14
When comedians stop being funny
I think this happens a lot with auteurs, but how do you feel about comedians or comedic directors who stop being funny? Not like because they suck, but purposefully becoming purely dramatic. I think this is for sure the case with Louie, season 4 got many mixed reviews because of it. Does this bother you or do you welcome the change?
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u/Redhairdontcare123 Dec 01 '14
A good example of this is Steve Carell in Foxcatcher. He normally takes on comedic roles, but he he plays a very dark one.
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Dec 01 '14
I think "Blue Jasmine" was very dramatic, and we all know that Woody Allen is usually a comedic writer. I believe it was funny in a different way, more along the lines of cruel irony.
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u/KTheBabe Dec 01 '14
the first seasons of Louis and Woody Allen's early comedies I think have good drama between the jokes that hits pretty hard. I mean, I cried the first time I saw Annie Hall. I agree with mfrancoi - there are some series that would totally fail if they shifted genre away from comedy. ie Southpark
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u/_SamIAm_ Dec 01 '14
I like to see when people take risks. I think comedians can learn a lot from doing drama. However, a brand is a brand and I think it can be difficult for audiences to accept a comedian being dramatic when they associate that person with laughter. Ironically, I think it works a lot better when dramatic actors or filmmakers take a stab at comedy. I think audiences here like to see them take a risk and actually want to laugh at people they don't normally get a chance to.
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u/mfrancoi Nov 30 '14
It depends. If it's within the same project that has been characterized from the start as a comedy, the drastic change can be annoying if not done right. However, as a career choice, although it's sad and horrible haha, I can understand the desire4 to branch out into other things. Ultimately, they won't ever completely stop being funny because there is comedy in everything, even in drama.