Category: comedy

  • Don Jon: A perverted examination of gender roles

    Don Jon: A perverted examination of gender roles

    Sex sells…or so advertising companies would have us believe. Don Jon sets out with what seem to be grand initial ideas of exploring the relationships between male and female ideals on sexual identity. The bigger questions of gender differences and how gender ideals correlate with opinions on standards for sexual behaviour and fantasies are also…

  • Will Ferrell & Adam McKay: Comedic Genius

    Will Ferrell & Adam McKay: Comedic Genius

    Comedy is a challenging form. For every hundred attempts made at producing something that might be considered funny to a commercially significant audience, only a dozen might be lucky/good enough to succeed. Of those that do succeed, only a minuscule number prove to be worthy enough to produce laughs more than a few years on.…

  • Child’s Play: Tough movies for little beasts

    Child’s Play: Tough movies for little beasts

    There are many myths about children and childhood, most of which relate to a misconception about the notion of innocence. We talk about kids as though they are friendly, effervescent bubbles of untainted purity, as yet uncorrupted by the difficulties and evils of the world. This is, of course, untrue. Anybody who has been a…

  • Silly, Slimy and Offensive: The Heart of Gross-Out Comedy

    Silly, Slimy and Offensive: The Heart of Gross-Out Comedy

    Flicking through the usual assortment of reality shows, cop shows, cartoons and current affairs programs that littered the airwaves last night, I fell upon a film that has always induced an inordinate amount of rage deep within my heart. This film is by all measures silly and at least mildly offensive, which is of course…