MovieChat Forums > Emma (2010) Discussion > Funniest Scenes?

Funniest Scenes?

posted 14 years ago by nicky-682-764451
25 replies | jump to latest

Another chance to view it wih fresh perspective, as if we need an excuse.

Having watched it again over 2 days, here are my laugh out loud moments:

- The Elton's arriving by donkey at Donwell for the strawberry picking.

- The waiting for the invitation from the Coles, and JLM's 2 classic punchlines.
"A haircut. I see. Urgent business indeed"

and

"But you wish to be able to refuse them in the manner in which you are accustomed". Michael Gambon's smirk there is the clincher for me.

- After Emma chastised Knightly for arriving at the Weston's by horse, and then waxes lyrical about Frank Churchill, Knightly's retort "I thought gentlemen always travelled by coach".

- When Emma re-imagines the moment when Frank rescues Harriet, and Harriet sighs and faints into his arms.

- The bench scene, when Emma says "I was talking to Harriet" and Knightly says "Harriet? I do not mind what we talk of, we can talk of Harriet if you must". A lovely light moment after swooning for 5 minutes (10 if like me, you immediately rewind and watch the proposal again).

[–] Flippitygibbit 14 years ago

No excuse needed!

I love JLM's expressions when arguing with Emma over Harriet and Robert Martin - when he looks around him in surprise, as if to say, 'did I miss something?' and how gobsmacked he is by her logic!

Oh, and 'Right in the hat!', when one of the Knightley boys catches Mr Knightley off guard with a snowball.

Hm. There might be a connection here.

"Tony, if you talk that rubbish, I shall be forced to punch your head" - Lord Tony's Wife, Orczy

[–] hcdenniss 14 years ago

Harriet, when she shouts "Ship court" and "blunder"

Heydoo

[–] ChocolateIsMyDrug 14 years ago

* At the first Hartfield dinner party, when Harriet has her lightbulb moment, and then says, 'How very civil!' I think Mr. Knightley himself was trying not to LOL at that one!

* During their argument, when Elton arrives, Emma smiles in this really happy, almost besotted-schoolgirl kind of way, and this is my interpretation of Mr. Knightley's expressions: 'WTF?' *sees Elton* 'Oh sh*t'. It's like even before Frank there was a panic when he thought she might be falling for someone else.

* How after Harriet yells out 'Shipcourt!', Emma corrects her and explains. 'Court, and ship - see, there and there!' Even she sounds exasperated by how slow Harriet is there. And then how as soon as Harriet says, 'Oh Miss Woodhouse!' she immediately mellows again.

* The whole 'Imagine Miss Bates at Donwell...' fantasy. The expression on Mr. Knightley's face was priceless!

* Mr. Knightley's supremely bored-sounding 'Ooh!' when Emma says she's made a guest list for the ball and Frank Churchill will design invitations. There's his 'provoking indifference' from the novel to a tee!

* Emma's rant about Mrs. Elton - 'Knightley indeed!' I almost died.

* At the dinner party at Hartfield, Mrs. Elton says, 'In Bath we certainly would have announced dinner by now', and the next second a footman announces dinner, and Emma gives Mrs. Elton this triumphant little smirk.

* All Mr. Knightley's little jabs at Frank Churchill: 'It's the horse I'm sorry for', 'A haircut - imperative business indeed', 'It is a fine haircut, but don't know why he needed to go all the way to London for it', 'Some of us don't need to look that far' (to find the child in us), 'You did not have to come'.

* The actual scorn in Emma's tone even when she says jokingly to Frank, 'Yet you are not so miserable as when you first arrived. Eat some more cold meat, drink some more beer, and you might end up as merry as the rest of us!' This totally conveys the part of the novel where she's glad she 'fell out of love' with Frank, because she could never have married a man who was so easily discomposed by the weather.

* John and Isabella's interaction after hearing of Mrs. Churchill's death. 'Why should we care?' -'John!'

* The whole exchange after Mrs. Churchill's death, and how everyone's gleeful expressions are warring with their solemn words. 'Frank will be free! Though of course we are all very sad that Mrs. Churchill has died.' 'I am so very happy at this... dreadful news.'

* Mr. Knightley's absolutely bewildered expression when Emma, after coming out from behind the pine tree says, 'I thought you had a look about you to scold me as you used to'.

* How it takes him a moment to register what Emma has said when she bursts into his study and sobs that they can never marry. 'Wha-?'

* How John is almost perpetually pissed off, even when he's sending off his brother and sister-in-law on their honeymoon. 'Yay, they get to go off on a fun holiday while I'm stuck here protecting the chickens!'

"I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul."

[–] nikkiree1994 14 years ago

I will be back with more of what I thought were funny scenes later, but this one is one my favorites. When Emma and Harriet are on their way to the vicarage and Harriet sees Mr. Martin. Emma's disgusted look is hilarious to me.

"Perhaps after all it is possible to read too many novels."

[–] bex_disney 14 years ago

One of the funniest parts was when they got in the argument about Harriet not accepting the proposal and when Knightley puts his fist up against his forehead and yells Ugghh!! It would be better to have no wits at all then apply them as you do!!
that made me laugh so much the last time i watched it!!!

Formerly iheartBALE

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] ChocolateIsMyDrug 14 years ago

That does sound interesting - thanks for the info, randommovies!

But I don't know... I've never really written anything like this since all those essays in high school English. I might give it a try, but it'll probably end up being boring and formal (in the vein of my old English essays). The instructions say to make it fun and original, but how do I do that? Any ideas??

I was thinking of focusing on Emma and Knightley as a couple, and why they're such a perfect match (and defending them from those who think one or the other married beneath them, and those who think Knightley's a creepy old man for liking her). I'd probably make an occasional reference to the series and how they got the dynamic between the two so right (and how the other adaptations got it wrong). What do you think?

"I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul."

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] randommovies2002 14 years ago

I think Miss Bates's comments about the hind end of the pork combined with her announcement about Miss Hawkins is hilarious. One of the funniest lines in the whole mini!

[–] alfa-16 14 years ago

John Knightly's behaviour to Emma on the night of the dinner at Randall's. First he prods her about her encouraging behaviour to Elton, then says he is always right about these things, then he positively smirks as he pushes her into the carriage alone with Elton as if to say "there, now see what happens".

Also love

"But you wish to be able to refuse them in the manner in which you are accustomed". Michael Gambon's smirk there is the clincher for me.

cited in the OP.

Elton's face as he tries to approve of Harriet's painting.

[–] randommovies2002 14 years ago

Yes, John Knightley is a fave character of mine anyhow, and I especially love what they did with him in this version.

[–] hcdenniss 14 years ago

I think he is a great character; all of them are. I just think he was unfair to Mr. Woodhouse when they were at the Weston's party: "I admire your spirit sir, but now see where we are?
I think John is a homebody himself and worries as much -- well, maybe not as much-- as his wife and father-in-law. Of course, he's not as bothered about rain....
Heydoo

[–] capercaillie 8 years ago

I think they did a really good job with the character of John Knightley here. There is a line from the book "He was not a great favourite with his fair sister-in-law. Nothing wrong in him escaped her. She was quick in feeling the little injuries to Isabella, which Isabella never felt herself." It is necessary for John to be a little "unpleasant" for the line in the book to make sense. To his credit, he is a doting father and he is kind to Jane Fairfax. I really like that John and Isabella get a bit of the action in this version.

[–] ren-an 13 years ago

There are so many, and many which have already been mentioned.
Emma running around and almost exploding while repeating Mrs Elton's "Knightley..."
When Mr. Knigthley wants to tell Emma the news about Mr Elton's marriage and is cut short by the sight of Harriet. His face is pricelss as is Emma's face...

And of course the "I am ashamed to arrive with you" and Knightley's: "You don't arrive with me, look..." as much as the quarrels of Emma and John Knighley that are great and funny, the way they keep yelling at each other, like brother and sister indeed.

[–] hcdenniss 13 years ago

In addition to Harriet's Ship Court and Blunder blurt outs, I always laugh at Mr. Knightley's little turn in his chair when Emma says she's going to the Coles' after all.

Heydoo

[–] chelle_5399 13 years ago

I love Mr. Knightley's comment to Mrs. Weston, "How we are all drawn to Hartfield like magnets, and can never leave!"

[–] chelle_5399 13 years ago

Not the funniest but still amusing: John Knightley's (and Emma's) reaction to Mrs. Churchill's death.

[–] nicky-682-764451 13 years ago

That reminds me of another little moment - when Emma and Knightly are setting off in their carriage, John sighs and says moans that they're off on a 2 week honeymoon; when Isabella replies "there is wolf about - we need a man about to protect the chickens", his reaction is priceless.

And also, when Isabella, John and George are discussing Mrs Churchill's death, they're talking about Emma being able to marry, and Isabella's blustering about how Emma doesn't want to, and finishes with "and besides, a husband may expect to tell her what to do, and she won't like that". Knightly rolls his eyes in agreement, which makes me laugh.

And we're back once again to JLM's gestures and expressions! A recurring theme on this board me thinks!!

[–] hcdenniss 13 years ago

JLM's reaction to Frank's: "How wonderful it is to be reminded of one's" childhood or something like that. And Mr. K says: Some of us don't need to look that far.

Heydoo

[–] kjvacca 13 years ago

When Frank tells Emma that he needs to go visit a family,

F: "A Miss...Bains?"
E: "Miss BATES?"

She says it with such perfect surprise and disgust it makes me laugh every time!

And of course when Knightly, in the middle of their argument, says to Emma, "It would be better to have no wits at all then to apply them as you do!"

"Do not alarm the makers of the tiny humans,they will eat you alive." -Dr. Arizona Robbins

[–] StarshipRanger 13 years ago

I can only think of one right off the top of my head, at least that hasn't already been said:

Mrs. Elton: Married women are the best organizers. Leave it to me.
Mr. Knightly: No, there is but one married woman in the world who I could ever allow to invite what guests she pleased to Donwell.
Mrs. Elton: Mrs. Weston, I suppose.
Mr. Knightly: No. Mrs. Knightly. (Everyone turns and stares) And until she is in being, I will manage matters myself.

Mostly, it was JLM's hand expressions during the "And until she is in being" part.

"I hate the homeless...ness problem that plagues our city."
Captain Hammer, "Dr. Horrible"

[–] Puddlemini 13 years ago

oh, after reading this board, I just had to watch it again!
I cannot imagine the characters played by any other because of this version; the chemistry was simply superb.

An onion can make people cry, but there is no vegetable invented to make them laugh.