# Comedy — Genre

> Films designed to amuse. Range from broad slapstick to subtle dramedy.

## Defining elements

- Designed to elicit laughter
- Conflict often low-stakes (relative to drama)
- Character flaws as humor source
- Misunderstanding / mismatch as engine
- Resolution typically positive

## Sub-genres

| Sub-genre | Example | Style |
|-----------|---------|-------|
| Romantic comedy | When Harry Met Sally | Love through obstacles |
| Screwball | Bringing Up Baby | Fast dialogue, chaos |
| Slapstick | Naked Gun | Physical, broad |
| Dark comedy | In Bruges | Comedy from dark situations |
| Satire | Don't Look Up | Social/political critique |
| Mockumentary | This is Spinal Tap | Documentary parody |
| Buddy comedy | Superbad | Friendship + adventure |
| Stoner comedy | Pineapple Express | Casual, absurd |
| Workplace comedy | Office Space | Modern frustration |
| Dramedy | Sideways | Drama with comedy |

## Structural conventions

### Joke density
- Several laughs per minute
- Setup-punchline rhythm
- Visual + verbal mix
- Variety in joke types

### Misunderstanding engine
- Characters operating on wrong info
- Mistaken identity
- Dramatic irony (audience knows)

### Escalation
- Each beat raises absurdity
- Snowball effect
- Climax = peak chaos

### Sympathetic protagonists
- Even flawed = lovable
- Audience roots for them
- Their defeats temporary

## Voice / Style

### Dialogue
- Witty
- Quick
- Specific (specifics are funnier than generics)
- Irony / sarcasm
- Character voice clear

### Visual
- Often bright, accessible
- Comedic timing in editing
- Reaction shots crucial
- Wide-then-close emphasis pattern

### Music
- Often upbeat
- Source music for jokes
- Score supports comic timing

## Comedy mechanics

### Setup → Punchline
- Establish expectation
- Subvert it
- Surprise = laugh

### Rule of three
- Two examples establish pattern
- Third subverts
- Classic comedy structure

### Callbacks
- Reference earlier joke
- Audience reward
- Deeper than first appearance

### Misdirection
- Audience expects A
- Get B
- Surprise = laugh

### Specificity
- "He drove a car" — not funny
- "He drove a 1987 Ford Tempo with a broken radio antenna" — funnier
- Detail = humor

## Sample comedic scene

```
INT. CAFE - DAY

ELDAR (35) is on a first date with NIGAR (32). He's nervous.

ELDAR
So... you're a doctor.

NIGAR
Lawyer.

ELDAR
Right. Lawyer. (trying to recover)
You probably handle... cases.

NIGAR
Yes. That's correct. I handle cases.

She smiles politely. He nods seriously, like she's revealed
something profound.

ELDAR
That must be... so many cases.

NIGAR
Just enough.

Long awkward pause. Eldar drinks his coffee. Realizes it's empty.
Drinks again anyway.

ELDAR
Mm. Good coffee.

NIGAR
You drank the cup already.

He sets it down. The empty cup on the table feels enormous.

ELDAR
... yes.
```

This works through:
- Specific, awkward details
- Misdirection (he can't recover)
- Visual gag (empty cup)
- Sympathetic character
- Real social situation amplified

## Common mistakes

- Telling jokes (vs. situations being funny)
- Mean-spirited humor (turns audience off)
- Punching down
- Forced quirks
- Stale references
- No genuine character beneath
- Predictable rhythms

## Best comedic films reference

- The Princess Bride (witty)
- When Harry Met Sally (romantic)
- Anchorman (absurd)
- The Big Lebowski (cult)
- Superbad (buddy)
- Bridesmaids (modern romantic)
- Eighth Grade (cringe + heart)
- The Worst Person in the World (dramedy)

## When to write comedy

- Lighter mood project
- Star vehicle
- Audience-friendly
- Mainstream commercial
- Mental health "escape"
- Holiday films

## Combination with other genres

- Comedy + Romance = Rom-com
- Comedy + Drama = Dramedy
- Comedy + Action = Action comedy (Bad Boys)
- Comedy + Horror = Horror comedy (Scream)
- Comedy + Crime = Crime comedy (Snatch)

Comedy elevates serious genres by humanizing characters.
