As someone who loves all kinds of films, there is not one specific genre that I really dislike. However, comedy is one of my favorites. I mean who doesn’t like to laugh? In a world that is full of upsetting and tragic events, comedy provides an escape that everyone needs. Despite there being so many styles of comedy that appeal to certain audiences, it all somehow makes the most uptight humans not take things so seriously. The power that comedy has over people is something that fascinates me about this film category. Although I have a wide range of comedies that I would recommend to others, two of my personal favorites include Mrs. Doubtfire and School of Rock.
For those of you who you are fans of Robin Williams, Mrs. Doubtfire must be a film you’ve seen. To put it briefly, a man named Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams) is a father of three children who ends up having a divorce with his wife. Due to issues over custody, Daniel is limited to the number of times that he can see his children. To change this, he disguises himself as an old woman named Mrs. Doubtfire who seeks to find a full-time nanny position. Through his skilled ability to act, he convinces his former wife, Miranda, that he is Mrs. Doubtfire and gets the job. During his time as an undercover nanny, Daniel shows his affection for his kids and makes audiences laugh through a time that is seen as very difficult in the real world. That’s what is so interesting about this comedy as it can take such depression things like divorce and add a story line that makes people see the brighter side of things. Those who have seen the film know it is lighthearted and moving as it emphasizes the extremes that parents will go to be with their children.
When looking at other films, comedy proves again that it can turn low points into comic relief. This is evident in films like School of Rock. In this film, a struggling musician named Dewey Finn, played by Jack Black, takes up a teaching job at a boarding school. At this point in his life, Dewey is out of a job and struggling to pay for rent. This is a struggle for people in the real world and the film utilizes comedy to turn a moment like this into one that results in a brighter outcome. During his time at the school, he organizes a rock band consisting of students in their tweens. Despite going against the policy of the school, Dewey opens the student’s eyes to a world outside of the classroom. This film is hilarious as it puts two opposite cultures, preppy students and a free-spirited guitarist, together resulting in brilliant humor that shows how music can really bring out the best in everyone, no matter their age or background.
This is what makes comedy so highly ranked for me because of its ability to provide laughter and in the end bring a meaningful message to audiences. It is very difficult to do this in the modern world and the fact that film has this ability to still bring people together is remarkable.
Sources for Images:
School of Rock | Movie fanart | fanart.tv
What to watch on Disney+ this February: New content dropping | Disney Australia
I personally love the film Mrs. Doubtfire and it is one of my all time favorite classics! I loved your analysis on the film and how you brought light to the fact in made such a depressing situation such as divorce and focused on a brighter side of the situation. I never really thought about this as I watched this movie and found it really interesting.
I like how you explored comedy’s role in exploring otherwise uncomfortable topics, such as change and hardship. The two movies you highlighted are perfect examples of this, despite being so different in their main topics.