I understand why film critics are so hard on slapstick comedies, but it is a system of ratings that needs to be changed. These movies are being rated as something that they are not necessarily trying to be, and that is unfair. It is like asking a woman to compete in the 100m Men's event and then say she turned in a terrible performance because she finished last. The modern slapstick comedy is not, for the most part, attempting to win any Oscars or wow the audience with its acting and cinematography. What they are trying to do is the make the audience laugh long, hard and throughout, and to remember the gags and jokes upon leaving the theater. Beneath the many grotesque, risqué or awkward jokes layered throughout can be found what most certainly always amounts to a bad movie. This is why the critics so ruthlessly attack these pictures.
They are not attempting to be entertained, so they fail to be; they simply look to classical film elements, and in the slapstick, you won't find many. And that's not to say that a few of them can actually be considered better pictures than others, surely most of Judd Apatow's recent stuff (Knocked Up, 40 Year Old Virgin, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) are all actually pretty decent movies, whereas Meet The Spartans or Epic Movie can just be considered pure trash because they are too stupid to have anything more than a few funny excerpts.
With this in mind, I have decided to rate a few slapstick comedies, (starting with the ones I have seen this summer, and then move on to some classics) from both a comic standpoint (measured mostly by laughter frequency and originality) and from an actually film critics point of view (based on traditional elements and structures that make films work).
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Directed by: Judd Apatow, Starring: Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, and Mila Kunis.
Comedy: 4.5/5 - I found Sarah Marshall to be a refreshingly original comedy. Although the same comical undertones exist in this film as in Knocked Up, the 40-Year-Old-Virgin and Superbad (obviously the friends have relatively similar senses of humor), Sarah Marshall isn't afraid to confront some serious issues about relationships, love and self-esteem. Only Knocked Up before it attempted to delve into these usually taboo concepts of slapstick comedy. Segel's script captured perfectly the emotions that a desperate ex-boyfriend goes through, and even mirrors the type of escapism usually experienced by a recent dumpee.
Film Rating: 3.5/5 - Sarah Marshall was, in all respects, a well put together movie. It's not going to win any awards, but there was a strong central character, a solid, believable storyline, some decent acting and a very strong pace. The biggest criticism I give the film from a critical standpoint is the accelerated relationship between Segel and Kunis. I felt that they connected eventually; however it didn't make sense to me that their original contact with one another led to the connection they formed after only 3 days or so.
Favorite scenes: When Segel's character is forced to sing "Dracula's Lament" on stage at the bar. The seven days in sweatpants montage. The scenes with Segel sleeping with random girls trying to get over Sarah.
Best character: Russell Brand's Aldous Snow was by far the funniest character in the movie.
Negative Criticism: I felt that the opening scene with Peter naked while getting dumped was good until it was overdone. The embarrassment of the situation from a humor standpoint evaporates very quickly, and I felt that they stayed with it too long. And the full frontal was completely unnecessary as it actually reduced the funny factor in the scene.
Don't Mess With the Zohan
Comedy 3/5 - I found Zohan charmingly funny at times and completely stupid at other times. Unfortunately they over killed a few of their jokes through repetition. Adam Sandler's character was funny in his own right, and John Tuturro's character also charmed with comedy throughout. The Jewish run businesses I found to be very satirically funny, as they conform to the stereotypes as well as bringing out the underhanded methodologies of the city-based Jewish run shops. Nick Swardson's character was under-utilized, as I find him one of the funniest comedy character actors around today, and he didn't have much material in this one. Dave Matthews' character was a bright spot, albeit in a very small role.
Overall rating 3/5 - One of the reasons that this film actually works as a bona fide Hollywood film is because of the Israeli/Palestinian crisis. It light heartedly touched upon the core of the actual political and religious issues and did it with charm. The movie didn't try to take itself too seriously and really bring politics into the storyline; however it did take soft jabs at real issues and did it in a way that could actually open some eyes to the absurd war that has been waging for 2000 years.
Favorite scenes: I found the Zohan mission where he faked his own death to work very well. I also enjoyed any of the scenes in which the New York Israelis and New York Palestinians interacted. And Rob Schneider's character thinking he was committing terrorist acts and becoming a big shot in the underground was great, culminating with the throwing of the Neosporin.
Best Character: I don't like doing this, but I would have to say the best character in the movie was "The Zohan". While he got tedious at times, the film obviously would not work at all without him being portrayed this way, and he is just another example of another good-natured Adam Sandler character.
Negative Criticism: Not since The Wedding Singer has Sandler really pulled off a good on screen relationship, although he certainly gets very hot women to be his female leads. I never believed Kate Beckinsale and Sandler's marriage in Click and I never felt anything for he and Marissa Tomei's relationship in Anger Management. The problem is that Sandler character's often steal the show and there is little room for a strong female lead, especially for one to equal screen presence with Sandler. The same problem exists with Zohan.
Emmanuelle Chriqui (Sloan from Entourage) is ungodly hot, perhaps the most attractive actress in Hollywood, however she isn't given much of a screen presence, and if fact the viewer doesn't even realize she is supposed to be a love interest until about 80% of the way through the movie. This, coupled with her at times awkward Middle-Eastern accent, made for yet another failed on screen romance.
