I read somewhere that Ben Stiller has acted in comedies. That he's a funny guy. Someone who makes you laugh. At least in the movies. I must have watched other movies with Ben Stiller then I guess as I don't remember a single scene ever that had Ben Stiller in it that was funny. And I think over the years I've seen them all.
I have the same question about Owen Wilson.
Or is it only 'Muricans that appreciate their kind of non-humour?
Same question for Seth Rogen.
And Robin Williams (extremely awful, never funny, very overrated).
I'm not a huge Stiller fan but Dodgeball was a fucking funny movie. And since you add Will Ferrell, who doesn't like Step-Brothers or Talladega Nights?
I think I have a problem with 'Murican humour'. I don't believe it exists. I think the average 'Murican is soooo dumb that the movies need to be dumb as well. So everything that is funny has to be *really* pointed out. That's why all those 'Murican sitcoms need the laugh tape (audience going "Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha") so the viewer knows that what they are currently watching is funny and they should laugh. 'Murican humour is just not sophisticated.
If you compare that with the sophisticated English or French humour it's a world of difference. Their comedy doesn't need the laugh tape, the audience pays attention and laughs instinctively.
'Muricans have been brainwashed into thinking that the likes of 2.5 men, the big bang bus theory and friends is comedy. It isn't.
So comedic actors I do like are British and French.
Notable exception: Archie Bunker. Now he was funny.
Humor of course is extremely subjective. Yes, all of the actors you listed are considered comedians in some form or fashion. As for why you don't find them funny, I think you'll need to list people you do find funny so a comparison can be made.
No. Some of them are comic actors. They can work from a script and make it funny. To me, a true comedian, does stand-up comedy, like Williams. Stiller is an actor, or tries to be. His parents were comedians.
Ben Stiller: I personally found Zoolander, Meet the Parents, and There's Something About Mary funny. I also think Mystery Men is seriously underrated.
For Owen Wilson (and Ben Stiller a bit) watch Wes Anderson's films. They're funny in a very different vein. Also Wilson: Midnight in Paris.
I'm not sure what to say about Robin Williams here. I find Williams extremely funny. Mork and Mindy, his stand-up comedy, Baron Munchhausen, The Fisher King? Really? Nothing?
Will Ferrell - sure. He's a fine sketch performer, but I don't really find him funny in longer roles. He's just loud. He "improvises" by just dropping "outrageous" non-sequitors into conversation and making brash statements. There's no skill there for a developed character or a well-crafted situation.
I also get not digging Seth Rogen, Mike Myers, or Jack Black (although I do find them funny from time to time). For some exceptions to the rule, Rogen's good in the first half of Pineapple Express (which definitely loses its way), and on Freaks and Geeks. I do mostly like Jack Black, but I get where he could be obnoxious to some people. Mike Myers - sure. I get that.
You're very dismissive of "American" comedy, but are you really writing off that whole population of comedians? Woody Allen? Mel Brooks? Gene Wilder? Billy Wilder? Dave Chappelle? Larry David and/or Jerry Seinfeld? You don't like Steve Carrell, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, George Carlin, Carol Burnett, Sid Caesar, Lucille Ball, Frasier, Community, The Good Place, Cheers, SNL (any of it?), The Simpsons (any of it?), Futurama, Archer, Arrested Development (at least seasons 1-3?), Mr. Show, or...or any of it?
Ben Stiller: I chuckled once or twice when watching TSAM. That's it. I know people think his stare (is that from Zoolander?) is hilarious. I really don't get it. Must be something in the drinking water over there in 'Murica that makes you people like that.
Owen Wilson: as funny as getting slapped in the face with a sledgehammer, and we all know, that's not really funny. And he's a real life asshole who treated his partners like shit. Doesn't he have some child he couldn't care less about? Makes seeing him play the likable guy in chick flicks awkward. And his nose looks like a penis. Very distracting.
Wes Anderson: I rate him below Uwe Boll. Yes, he's that terrible. Stupid movies, most of them involve singing. Once I downloaded some movie that on paper sounded good, some thriller or horror or so with Johnny Depp but when I started watching it it turned out to be another Wes Anderson disaster, with singing. Even they really want to torture people in the likes of Guantanamo they should force them to watch The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
Robin Williams: NO. Just a very clear NO. Robin is 'funny' on command, starts talking fast and acting all over the top. Mork & Mindy was on tv when I was a kid. Tried to like it but never understood why the laugh tape was laughing because nothing funny was ever said. Robin Williams is just over the top crazy mannerisms.
Will Ferrell: didn't he rise to fame in SNL? That's another program that was - perhaps - funny eons ago when John Belushi was still alive. Left wing politically correct drivel. Say "Fuck Trump" and the audience goes Hahahahahahaha. The first time I saw Ferrell was in that stupid movie with Nicole Kidman, her fist big blunder. Out of the blue there he was, this unfunny, ugly (men with curly hair, brrrrrrr!) retard that for the first time made me hade a movie with Nicole Kidman. I have not spoken to Nicole after that movie came out! Not before either to be honest.
Well, I mean, comedy is certainly subjective and everybody has their own preferred flavours, but we've got very, very different tastes if you can't find anything about Robin Williams that speaks to his talent, nor Wes Anderson. I get not liking one comedian or another (I'm not a Ferrell or Rogen guy myself), but I was mostly curious about your writing-off all American comedy entirely.
You don't think that list I provided at the bottom has one redeeming comic? You can't find any stand-up comedians, sketch comics, improvisers, or comic actors you like? You dislike The Marx Brothers and Bugs Bunny?
Regarding stand-up comedians: I have heard some funny stuff from Kathleen Madigan and Larry the Cable Guy.
'Murican sketch comics: that's SNL kind of stuff, so no. Not funny.
Marx Brothers: fucking hate them. Stupid names. One of them has got a real Backpfeiffengesicht (a face you'd want to slap). Seeing that turd makes my blood boil.
Bugs Bunny: as said in a post below: I love Looney Tunes (except Road Runner). Mel Blanks was a hero. He voiced most of the characters I love so much. My favourite is Rif Raf Sam, the riffiest riff that ever riffed a raff!
Woody Allen: NEVER every funny. Neurotic fool. Fucked his daughter. Hahahahaha.
Mel Brooks: now HE is funny! I forgot about him but History of the World was a masterpiece. Blazing Saddles was funny as hell too. He's made some other half decent movies as well but History of the World was his magnum opus.
Gene Wilder: I liked Blazing Saddles and I had my first faps to Kelly LeBrock but Wilder has got curly hair like Will Ferrell and is thus evil. Not funny.
Dave Chappelle: liked his sketch on the Niggas. Don't know his other work.
Larry David: don't know her.
Jerry Seinfeld: tried to like it, but getting syphilis in Thailand is funnier.
Steve Carrell: mwah, sometimes, suffers from the over-the-top-look-at-me-acting-funny-syndrome. Owes his success to Ricky Gervais.
Jon Stewart: the talkshow dude? For FUCK sake! He is SOOO unfunny, he never even had a funny bone! ALL 'Murican talkshow dudes (and bitches, like ellen degenerate) are as funny as dying of the chinese virus.
Stephen Colbert: about as funny as stepping of the train in Auschwitz.
George Carlin: he has got a few funny things, but he's more interesting than funny.
The Good Place: the only good place I know is between some hot legs.
Cheers: is that the series with Ted Danson in some pub? Was on tv when I was young. Suffers from the same fate as ALL those other 'Murican "comedies" : ONLY 'Muricans will like it. Not sophisticated, needs the laugh tape to point out where the 'funny' bits are. Dreadful.
SNL: nah, as said, maybe looooong ago, in Belushi's time.
Simpsons: No. Fucking. Way. That's the opposite of funny. I grew up with actual funny cartoons ('Murican I must admit):Tom & Jerry, Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, Donald Duck, Flintstones (so Hannah Barbara, Looney Tunes and a bit of Disney).
You didn't mention Southpark: I had to laugh about Tom Cruise not wanting to come out of the closet. But that was it.
To well educated sophisticated Europeans 'Murican comedy is just utter crap with a very few exceptions. We like British comedy, though not the drivel the BBC has been forcing down people's throats for the last decade or so.
I absolutely love 'Murican action movies though. They are masters at film making. They're just not funny. At all.
You strike me as someone who doesn't know a lot then. I mean, if that's the only thing you know... Well, at least it explains why you like 'Murican "comedies", you don't need to know a lot to enjoy them I guess. Actually, it's probably a prerequisite, the more sophisticated you are, the more the dumbness of it irritates you.
Ben Stiller: not funny. Okay actor though
Owen Wilson: hilarious
Seth Rogen: hilarious
Robin Williams: jovial, but not funny
Will Ferrell: not funny, but a good actor
Jack Black: not funny, but cool
Mike Myers: I refuse to watch any of his movies, his face just irritates me
Happily, the Ameriphobe alleged doctor has left the building.
What is this shit with people adding “doctor” to their usernames? Doctor13? MrDoctor? (Do you think any couple is ever socially introduced as “MrDoctor and Mrs MrDoctor”? And then there was this asshole.
I once answered the phone when I was at work. The man on the phone said, “This is [Joe Blow], MD.” I thought, “What a pompous asshole.” I replied, “This is _____, EdD, LitD, PhD. How you doin’ today, Doc?” You pompous little prick, like one that has an eraser on the end of it.