MovieChat Forums > Bubba Ho-Tep (2003) Discussion > Can the Humor of This Movie Be Explained...

Can the Humor of This Movie Be Explained?

posted 16 years ago by Dale The Bold
92 replies | jump to latest

I really don't want this to turn into a "You're Dumb for Liking/Disliking This Movie" debate, I am honestly and respectfully just trying to figure out how certain films can be loved by some, but loathed by others.

I remember being a kid in elementary school and watching animal videos in school. If a bear or raccoon fell out of a tree and rolled down a hill, the other kids would be laughing hysterically, while I would be sitting there wondering what was so funny. I was perplexed, wondering if I was missing out on what was actually funny or if the kids who were laughing were just easily amused.

I believe that there are categories of funny that usually work on different levels for different people. A big one is incongruity, such as an arrogant snob farting, or a person making an argument and making an embarrassing typo--especially if it contains an unintentional innuendo. Another is seeing mild misfortune, like someone falling on the sidewalk--which usually gets a bigger laugh if they are carrying something and it breaks. In both of those examples, the humor is found at the mild expense of someone. We don't laugh at major misfortunes, only little things. Nothing more than someone's minor loss of some dignity plus the cost of a pie.

It may be against the law, but I didn't find Bubba Ho-Tep or the Monty Python movies funny. Both were recommended by the same friends. Are there people who liked Bubba Ho-tep but didn't like Monty Python? The only common denominator I can identify between those examples is that they have a gritty, low-budget feel to them and I wonder if that environment helps set the stage for certain folks. I wonder if the humor in them appeals to people of a "humor orientation" different from my own.

I don't find the Three Stooges funny, I don't find physical comedy funny except when performed by John Ritter (he had a style), and old Warner Bros cartoons were cool, but not usually funny (to me). Sometimes a comedy turn-off is when they try too hard. It almost comes across as overly-confident and that can kill humor. Another comedy-killer is condescension. If I feel that the filmmaker is talking down to me or going for the cheap laugh, my emotional reaction is to simply anticipate the next scene and hope it is better.

For example, this quote (and I mean no disrespect, fans, please don't be offended):

"I was dreamin'. Dreamin' my dick was out and I was checkin' to see if that infected bump on the head of it had filled with pus again. If it had, I was gonna name it after my ex-wife Priscilla and bust it by jackin' off. Or I'd like to think that's what I'd do. Dreams let you think like that. Truth was, I hadn't had a hard-on in years."

The quote above gets the following reaction from me:
How unfortunate a dick infection must be. The insult to his ex-wife is kind of funny as it indicates that he has held on to a grudge for years and enjoys a good jab at her when the opportunity arises. I can relate. The talk about hard-on deprivation, which must come from old age, makes me think of Viagra jokes. And I can't help but think this appeals to our inner juvenile. As a result, it reeks of "cheap laugh," for me. I wonder if the Elvis accent and regional colloquialisms add to the "ambience" of the humor, like many Southern sayings do.

Then there is the scene where Elvis is trying to kill the bug. I think we can all relate to the adventures of bug-squishing when it doesn't go well, but I didn't even know that scene was trying to be funny. I have read reviews of Bubba Ho-Tep where that scene was described as THE funniest sequence ever. Suddenly, I felt like I was back in elementary school, once again NOT laughing at that bear cub tumbling down a hill, while everyone else was. I have chased a good many bugs around my apartment, and I usually talk trash to them when I do. "That toilet is your punishment for being ugly. Enjoy your eternity in Sewer Hell. Give my best to toilet-satan." I do that to amuse myself in my own silly way, but I never knew that it would be hilarious for others if they saw it.

What I would like to see in this thread is an explanation, not only of WHAT people found hilarious in this movie, but WHY. I know explaining it often ruins it, but with me, it's already not funny. I just want to satisfy that curiosity. Please explain.

[–] halbarad_loire 13 years ago

The only thing I can say is that the seriousness of the acting combined with the complete insanity of the situations just combines to make this film funny.
It's not trying too hard which puts me off some films, it's not mindless, childish, stupidity which is an immediate killer for me. It just hits that sweet spot.

The language as mentioned as well may sound childish if you take it out of context but it's the blunt nature of it again combined with the seriousness of the acting.

[–] mam13143 13 years ago

An absurd situation played in all seriousness by two very talented actors (and secondary ones too) make for a very entertaining movie. Sooooo tired of the same old Hollywood crap. Bruce and ozzie are great and so is Ella Joyce. Not meant to be gut busting laugh out loud flick but it does have it's moments. Ya like it or ya don't but it is a well crafted movie.

[–] viktor_habbohotel 13 years ago

Just by looking at the wall of text (I did it read it), I would probably say that you're somewhat of a movie snob who's not really the kind of guy who's... uhm, humorous... Pretty much, you're more of a serious guy is what I get from your message.

[–] sschind 12 years ago

I love Monty Python and I didn't really like this movie. I didn't find it particularly funny though I did get a few chuckles. Quite frankly I don't see any similarities between the two. As far as asking people to explain why something is funny, it's like asking them why they like the color green. I don't think true humor can really be explained. If it could, we would all think the same things are funny. Something is either funny to you or it is not.

Also, except in the cases where someone misses a point or is not familiar with certain aspect of the intended humor I don't think that explanations will help anyone think something is funny. If I watch a movie and I don't think it is funny, you coming on here and explaining to me why you think it is funny probably won't change my mind. Just like my explaining why I didn't think it was funny probably won't change yours. I know you were not looking for someone to give you a compelling argument to change your mind but my point is, if you don't think something is funny you probably won't understand the other guys explanation of why he thinks it is funny anyway.

Besides that, I think a good enough explanation to say why I thought it was funny is because "it made me laugh." There is really nothing more to it than that. If you laugh it's funny, no further explanation is needed. Just like your explanation as to why you didn't think it was funny need be nothing more than "it didn't make me laugh." I can't explain why I thought Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles and History of the World Part 1 were hilarious while Spaceballs was one of the most unfunny movies (for a supposed comedy) I have ever seen other than I laughed my behind off during the first three and don't think I managed more than one or two smiles during the last one. The first three were funny the last one was not.

If I have to read the book to help explain the movie that tells me the movie failed

[–] x1nd0lent 12 years ago

I can't easily explain the humor myself. The problem I think is what I call: "The tyranny of "supposed". This is when a movie is distinct on its own, but people need to categorize it somehow. What's it "supposed" to be? This happens most I find with horror and comedies, because they are "supposed" to make people feel a certain way, at either end of the emotional spectrum. A person might hate a supposed comedy for not being funny, but then some of their other favorite movies might not be very funny either. They might say, "Yeah, but those weren't "supposed" to be funny!"

Getting over this has helped me to enjoy movies much more. I don't care if it's supposed to be funny, scary, arty, trashy, whatever. Instead I try to watch with an open mind and appreciate a movie for itself. Bubba Ho-Tep I'd say was a just bit funny, but it's excellent just the same. It's IMO about getting old, falling apart, and the desire to still be vital and helpful anyway. This is both scary and funny, but in a more personal way than most movies touch upon.

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[–] wizzlestick 11 years ago

I had to stop reading once the OP said he didn't find the Monty Python movies funny.

It sounds like you wrote an intelligent post but we clearly do not have the same idea about what is "funny" :)

I think you will be in the minority in your perspective though, but that is perfectly fine.

[–] boramaster 11 years ago

There is always this from the incomparable Mel Brooks:

“Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die.”

[–] englisher101 10 years ago

Most of the humor in this film isn't physical. It's in the dialogue. Bruce Campbell has become a legend for his cheesy one liners, and in this film he delivers big time.