The Art of Slap Stick

I enjoy most comedies, but I prefer the subtle comedy you see in Dr. Strangelove, Best in Show, or The Office. Despite my preference for dry humor I have to admit that I also have a small place in my heart for slapstick. By slapstick I mean blatant unabashed physical comedy. I've been guilty of laughing at Buster Keaton, the 3 Stooges, and the Marx Brothers, but I have to draw the line when it comes to pies in the face or slipping on banana peels. That's never funny.

I remember when I saw Airplane for the first time. That movie took gags and puns to a whole new level. Leslie Nielsen has since become the poster child of the spoof comedy and is now typecast in that role. I have learned that people are very subjective when it comes to comedy. What some people think is funny, others may just roll their eyes and shake their head at.

One such example is this clip from Hot Shots Part Deaux. I remember when I saw this scene in the theater I was laughing so hard I had tears rolling down my cheeks and I couldn't breathe. I look at this scene with mixed emotions because I knew some of the gags are just plain stupid, but others are hilarious. I understand that people have different tastes and preferences, but if you can't laugh at something in that scene, then you have some issues.