What Makes Good Stupid Comedy?

[Weatherman2020]

I’m a funny guy who understands comedy pretty well. I’ve got a couple of friends who are professional comedians and I’m always making them laugh.

But one thing escapes me. What makes good silly (stupid) comedy?
Get Smart
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Airplane!
Blazing Saddles

I can watch them over and over and laughter never declines.

But while I know some like these, they are like fingernails on chalkboard to me.
Dumb and Dumber
Austin Powers
Napoleon Dynamite
Meet the Fockers

What sets these apart?

 

[Justin Richardson]

Gee, and I thought "Cheech and Chong: Up in Smoke" would make the list! It's a classic!
I do like Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I still have that on VHS.

Man, I am getting really old.

 

[Ringtone]

I’m a funny guy who understands comedy pretty well. I’ve got a couple of friends who are professional comedians and I’m always making them laugh.

But one thing escapes me. What makes good silly (stupid) comedy?
Get Smart
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Airplane!
Blazing Saddles

I can watch them over and over and laughter never declines.

But while I know some like these, they are like fingernails on chalkboard to me.
Dumb and Dumber
Austin Powers
Napoleon Dynamite
Meet the Fockers

What sets these apart?

Napoleon Dynamite is hilarious.

 

[Weatherman2020]

Napoleon Dynamite is hilarious.

Curious. How would you rank:
Get Smart
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Airplane!
Blazing Saddles

 

[lg325]

There has to be a little truth to it so the audience can relate to it. We all do stupid things and also know people who do as well.

 

[Indeependent]

I’m a funny guy who understands comedy pretty well. I’ve got a couple of friends who are professional comedians and I’m always making them laugh.

But one thing escapes me. What makes good silly (stupid) comedy?
Get Smart
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Airplane!
Blazing Saddles

I can watch them over and over and laughter never declines.

But while I know some like these, they are like fingernails on chalkboard to me.
Dumb and Dumber
Austin Powers
Napoleon Dynamite
Meet the Fockers

What sets these apart?

A lack of subtlety and context.
I make people piss in their pants by being off the cuff but I wouldn’t do standup comedy because it’s pure memorization.

 

[Weatherman2020]

A lack of subtlety and context.
I make people piss in their pants by being off the cuff but I wouldn’t do standup comedy because it’s pure memorization.

But look at my list of likes/dislikes. All have subtle off the wall humor. But I hate half of them, love the other half.

 

[Weatherman2020]

There has to be a little truth to it so the audience can relate to it. We all do stupid things and also know people who do as well.

But what separates my two groups?

 

[miketx]

I’m a funny guy who understands comedy pretty well. I’ve got a couple of friends who are professional comedians and I’m always making them laugh.

But one thing escapes me. What makes good silly (stupid) comedy?
Get Smart
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Airplane!
Blazing Saddles

I can watch them over and over and laughter never declines.

But while I know some like these, they are like fingernails on chalkboard to me.
Dumb and Dumber
Austin Powers
Napoleon Dynamite
Meet the Fockers

What sets these apart?

The people delivering it.

 

[Indeependent]

But look at my list of likes/dislikes. All have subtle off the wall humor. But I hate half of them, love the other half.

I never found Jim Carrey to be funny.
Austin Powers and The Fockers sucked.
Low IQ “humor”.

 

[miketx]

Curious. How would you rank:
Get Smart
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Airplane!
Blazing Saddles

Pick any Mel Brooks movie. Winner.

 

[Ringtone]

Curious. How would you rank:
Get Smart
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Airplane!
Blazing Saddles

Good stuff!

However, I like the screwball comedies of the 40s like Arsenic and Old Lace and Bringing Up Baby most especially.

 

[Weatherman2020]

Good stuff!

However, I like the screwball comedies of the 40s like Arsenic and Old Lace and Bringing Up Baby most especially.

Those are good too.
But why are others unwatchable?

 

[Weatherman2020]

Pick any Mel Brooks movie. Winner.

But what sets his work apart?

 

[Indeependent]

Curious. How would you rank:
Get Smart
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Airplane!
Blazing Saddles

The Airplane films were pure genius.
I will never get British humor.

 

[Weatherman2020]

I never found Jim Carrey to be funny.
Austin Powers and The Fockers sucked.
Low IQ “humor”.

But Don Adams doing Get Smart is low IQ too, but it’s hilarious.
Why?

 

[Indeependent]

But what sets his work apart?

Sarcasm as opposed to pure absurdity.

 

[lg325]

But what separates my two groups?

I agree with MikeTx

 

[Indeependent]

But Don Adams doing Get Smart is low IQ too, but it’s hilarious.
Why?

Maxell is not so bright; the material snarking on his IQ is bright.

 

[Weatherman2020]

Sarcasm as opposed to pure absurdity.

Missed it by that much.
Sorry about that, Chief

Epic lines. But why?