Monday, February 23, 2004

"Who are these sick people?"

Are we - people like Chad and I - sick people? No, we may not be selling de-capitated parakeets to blind kids ("Pretty bird, pretty bird..."), but some would consider those of us that appreciate the humorous apex that is "Dumb and Dumber" to be sick people. I hate to admit it, but I STILL laugh when I see scenes that contain lines like, "I can't stop once I've started...it stings." Even now, I nearly chuckled at typing that. And I almost literally cried when I realized the sequel would NOT star Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels...what a crime against the franchise.

And - as I would hesitate to say in certain circles - I laugh at other silly movies. "Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls" - classic scene when Jim Carrey gets a spear stuck in both legs, and he just stands there going "Aaaaugh!...Aaaaugh!" Or "Mystery Men," when Ben Stiller realizes he's not REALLY a superhero and he's like "What do I do, I go 'RAAAAGGHHH!' and that's it..." Or the whole show known as "Galactica 1980." Hehe...great comedy moments (even if I lost you with the "Galactica 1980" reference).

Why does this stuff make me laugh? Maybe it was how I was raised on Saturday morning cartoons. I laughed every time that Wile E. Coyote experienced a momentary suspension of the laws of physics right before he plunged 100s of feet down a cliffside. Who knows... We are, after all, the children who grew up in a time when Steve Martin's comedy career began with the phrase "wild and crazy guys", Land Shark was actually a funny SNL segment. and Eddie Murphy talked about "Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood." All silly. And we also grew up in a time when our heroes 'whined' lines like "But I wanted to go to Tashi station to pick up some power converters?" Not silly comedy, but...well, yes it is.

Maybe we just 'get' the joke and some don't... It's like "The Simpsons"...even I, yes I admit, did NOT used to be a fan of the show. Then, one day, Chad's describing a scene, and BAM!...I got it...and LAUGHED. Now I own the DVD collection and several games based on the franchise...w00t. But had I not ever finally 'gotten it' (the subtlety of the humor...the satire of the characters and plots), I doubt I would be the fan I am today. Thanks, Chad. Hmmm...

KEY PHRASES: "Release the robotic Richard Simmons!" (Mr. Burns, from 'The Simpsons')

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home