Slapstick comedy... is it funnier if a man trips and falls, or a woman?
I don’t know why, but it’s only funny to me if a man falls on the street or in public. Don’t feel the same about women. I want to help the lady and feel sorry for her. On the other hand, if a woman falls off of a bed, I think that’s pretty damned funnier than if a man did.
Should it matter?
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Oh… and I also think it’s funnier if a woman is found in the wilderness with high heels and a nice dress, rather than if a man was in the same situation in an expensive suit. Why is one funnier than the other to me?
Seems no difference for me. However it’s funny if a fat person falls on a thin one and even funnier for me if a thin person falls onto a fat one and bounces off! : )
depends on how much you like the character. It’s not funny when real people hurt themselves though.
Most slapstick has been done by men but no one did it better than Lucille Ball.
I have a performing group that does slapstick as part of their show. The guys are better than the girls, but I think it has a lot to do with their stage presence than anything. There’s one girl I’d love to get involved in our group but she lives too far away. She would be equally as funny but using different moves than the guy.
However, I do think you have a point… we have one move where the guy literally flips in the air and lands on his butt- I can’t see how that would be funny with a girl doing it. I think people still have that inherent “females=fragile” mentality and seeing a pretty girl flip midair/land on her butt would not be funny but (gasp!) Lucille was funny mostly because of her reactions and mishaps—I might be wrong, but did she ever do anything seriously physical, like fall out of the sky?
Slapstick, like most comedies, depend on the audience to understand the underlying humor, so the director has to ‘get’ the audience before being able to draw out their laughs.
great clip @woodcutter. I had to laugh. what a setup!
excellent points everyone.
@RealEyesRealizeRealLies If you haven’t seen the whole movie I highly recommend getting it. Non stop belly laughs. Top of the line cast.
Yeah I saw it decades ago. It’s on the short list for a second review.
It’s funnier if a fat person falls regardless of gender, for it is written & that is the way of things.
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