Dmitry Posted January 21, 2016 Report Posted January 21, 2016 So French people are considered to have a peculiar sense of humor, which some might call primitive. I'm trying to recall even a handful of really good French comedies...nothing contemporary jumps to mind. Maybe some Moliere...but that ain't movies. Granted, I don't speak French, so maybe I am missing on some really clever French jokes. Quote
alankin Posted January 21, 2016 Report Posted January 21, 2016 They love Jerry Lewis. Explain that. Quote
fasstrack Posted January 21, 2016 Report Posted January 21, 2016 (edited) 2 hours ago, alankin said: They love Jerry Lewis. Explain that. Remember comedian Steve Landesberg's routine about Jerry and the French?: (bad French accent) Jerr-y Lewees. The man is a geniees! Remember that movie when he said 'Dean, uuuuuhh'? A geniees! Or something like that. I hope people don't go PC on me, or my French colleagues get offended. It's just a joke---and not mine at that. Edited January 21, 2016 by fasstrack Quote
sonnymax Posted January 21, 2016 Report Posted January 21, 2016 3 hours ago, Dmitry said: So French people are considered to have a peculiar sense of humor, which some might call primitive. I'm trying to recall even a handful of really good French comedies...nothing contemporary jumps to mind. Maybe some Moliere...but that ain't movies. Granted, I don't speak French, so maybe I am missing on some really clever French jokes. La Cage Aux Folles The Discreet Charm Of The Bourgeoisie Amélie The Dinner Game Delicatessen The Visitors Quote
GA Russell Posted January 21, 2016 Report Posted January 21, 2016 I remember my favorite time in a movie theatre. It was the spring of '72. We watched a double feature of two new French comedies: The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe and The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob. I spent three hours rolling in the aisle. My date didn't laugh once. Quote
fasstrack Posted January 21, 2016 Report Posted January 21, 2016 (edited) 13 minutes ago, GA Russell said: I remember my favorite time in a movie theatre. It was the spring of '72. We watched a double feature of two new French comedies: The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe and The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob. I spent three hours rolling in the aisle. My date didn't laugh once. I remember Rabbi Jacob. Hilarious. Saw it at the famed Kent Theater in Midwood, Brooklyn when it came out. Edited January 21, 2016 by fasstrack Quote
mjzee Posted January 21, 2016 Report Posted January 21, 2016 How about Bertrand Blier's movies? Get Out Your Handkerchiefs, etc. The French have a wonderful sense of humor. Their sensibility is very different than Americans, though. Try comparing Pardon Mon Affaire to the Gene Wilder remake The Woman In Red. The Wilder film seems club-footed compared to the original. Quote
johnblitweiler Posted January 21, 2016 Report Posted January 21, 2016 doesn't Jacques Tati make you laugh? Quote
paul secor Posted January 21, 2016 Report Posted January 21, 2016 Check out J.J. Sempé's drawings. If they don't put a smile on your face, there's something wrong. Quote
Larry Kart Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 2 hours ago, johnblitweiler said: doesn't Jacques Tati make you laugh? I remember going to see "Mon Uncle" when it came out. My friend and I laughed at the first thing and didn't stop throughout. Saw it again recently -- still liked it, but it didn't make me laugh as much or in quite the same way. Perhaps it was that I could see this time a certain politique to it that bordered on smugness. Quote
paul secor Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 Many of Francois Truffaut's films have humor in them. Maybe not falling over belly laughs, but the humor is certainly there. Calling brownie. Quote
Dmitry Posted January 22, 2016 Author Report Posted January 22, 2016 15 hours ago, sonnymax said: La Cage Aux Folles The Discreet Charm Of The Bourgeoisie Amélie The Dinner Game Delicatessen The Visitors Well, I'd say that The Discreet Charm Of The Bourgeoisie is a satire more than a comedy, although I suppose it can be both. I have seen dozens of French comedies in my lifetime, from the early years on..De Funes movies, Pierre Richard, some of them are funny for sure., others are poor. Richard, in particular, seems to have been playing the same role for decades. Tati never made me crack a smile. Is he considered the French prototype to the English Mr.Bean? One can define the British humor, but what is the gist of what the French humor represents? Back to Jerry Lewis? http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2013/07/french-love-jerry-lewis-paris Quote
BillF Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 20 minutes ago, Dmitry said: One can define the British humor I'm interested. What is it? Quote
Dmitry Posted January 22, 2016 Author Report Posted January 22, 2016 15 minutes ago, BillF said: I'm interested. What is it? I couldn't express it better than this - A strong theme of sarcasm and self-deprecation, often with deadpan delivery, runs throughout British humour. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_humour Quote
brownie Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 True, there has not been any major funny French film in recent years. Last one which was worth more than a few smiles was 'Le pere Noël est une ordure' from 1982. A Masterpiece! Quote
A Lark Ascending Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 4 hours ago, Dmitry said: I couldn't express it better than this - A strong theme of sarcasm and self-deprecation, often with deadpan delivery, runs throughout British humour. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_humour I don't recognise that at all. Quote
BillF Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 38 minutes ago, A Lark Ascending said: I don't recognise that at all. You are, of course, being ironic/sarcastic in a very British way, aren't you, Bev? Quote
l p Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 (edited) check out the films of Quentin Dupieux. the funniest french writer/director in recent years. i'd say that his movies are in the comedy / absurdist category. Nonfilm (2001) on Uploaded by the director. with english subtitles. Steak (2007) Rubber (2010) Wrong (2012) * Wrong Cops (2013) * Realite (2014) ** * english language ** mostly english language Edited January 22, 2016 by l p Quote
A Lark Ascending Posted January 23, 2016 Report Posted January 23, 2016 12 hours ago, BillF said: You are, of course, being ironic/sarcastic in a very British way, aren't you, Bev? Ironic/sarcastic? Moi? Quote
crisp Posted January 24, 2016 Report Posted January 24, 2016 On 22 January 2016 at 2:06 PM, Dmitry said: I couldn't express it better than this - A strong theme of sarcasm and self-deprecation, often with deadpan delivery, runs throughout British humour. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_humour No mention of expat British comedians Stan Laurel, Charlie Chaplin and Bob Hope, though. Quote
JSngry Posted January 25, 2016 Report Posted January 25, 2016 On Thursday, January 21, 2016 at 6:25 PM, johnblitweiler said: doesn't Jacques Tati make you laugh? Not yet...but I do like me some Jerry Lewis, which was not always the case, so...who knows? Quote
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