Polarized Opinions: Comic relief in films.

When it comes to comic relief in films, views of them seem to be quite polarized. Either you like comic relief characters or can’t stand them. Some examples:

Jar Jar Binks
Timon and Pumbaa
etc

 

You mean comic relief in otherwise ostensibly non-comedic films?

The biggest problem with Jar Jar Binks was that he *wasn't* funny. R2D2 and C3PO provided comic relief in the original trilogy and they weren't the targets of nearly as many complaints. Because their bits actually were funny.

I think it really depends on how it's done, not whether to do it. I mean, is there actually an example of comic that hit all the marks and was LOL funny that a person thought should nevertheless not have been there, because it ruined the mood?

That might be something to consider. Not sure if I can think of one right now.

 

The reporter in The Desert Song is a good humorous character, and helps out with the plot too.

 

I think "it depends." Sometimes it works, sometimes it's haaaaaaarible.


This one was haaaaaaaaaaaarible.

 

Who in the hell likes Jar Jar Binks? That seems to be a very one-sided example.

 

Depends. Worked for Shakespeare.

 

Short-Round

 

Worst line in Almost Famous: "F*** it! I'm... I'm gay!"

Still ruins a perfectly nice movie for me. Still don't understand why Cameron Crowe took such a misstep into humor.

 

The lame and inappropriate attempts at comic relief in Last House On the Left help push the movie from bad to awful.

 

Yeah, the inept sheriff, not to mention the goofy music. I thought that was about the grimmest movie possible until I saw I Spit On Your Grave which revolted me much more even as a teenager, and no comic relief in that one.