Death of the Buddy Comedy
Where are the classic buddy comedies? What happened to the two witty, goofy, eccentric characters that seamlessly flow with one another? What about the numerous values and lessons these films promote? Has the era of buddy comedies come and gone? Yes, after many years the buddy comedy has fallen from its pedestal in the top ten movies to the average positions of 15th and 20th. Americans are more interested in the big blockbuster action flicks than the now lowly comedy film. The buddy comedy, while popular in the late twentieth century, has slowly decreased in popularity in the last 15 years.
The buddy comedy consists of two friends, acquaintances, or strangers who are set upon some journey. The journey itself is not the focal point of the film. The bonds between the two characters drives the movie forward. No matter the conflict or resolution of the film, the two characters find themselves forging, and sometimes fortifying, a deep connection brought about by their shared experience. Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle is a prime example of an arbitrary plot that is overshadowed by the characters struggles and how the pair cope with those struggles together. Buddy films are about friendship, and its power when facing adversity. In Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, Harold wants to give up and just get food somewhere else, but Kumar inspires both to continue their quest for the perfect sliders. What is the buddy comedy? The buddy comedy is the resolution of conflicts, completing of quests, and denouement of journeys through the bonds the two characters form or, in some cases, already have. These values are enveloped in streams of jubilant jokes, humbling humor, and charming characters.
In the late twentieth century and early 2000s the top of the charts was filled with movies promoting the value of perseverance through the bonds of friendship. Beginning in 1984 with the film Beverly Hills Cop — which was the number one ranked film on Box Office Mojo — a buddy comedy continued to be in the top 10 ranked movies for the next 9 years; only failing to make it in 1993 (the top ranked film that year, Grumpy Old Men, still ranked 14th). From 1984 to 2002, the buddy comedy failed to make the top 10 three times, and only was out of the top 15 for two years. The only years where the top grossing movie was a buddy comedy were:
Buddy comedies thrived during this period because people enjoyed simple films, that were easy going but still upheld values such as community, love, forgiveness, hope, and, of course, friendship. Toy Story features two toys who, at first, despise each other. But through the course of the film the two toys become united as friends, forming a bond that is almost unbreakable. The values present, and the lessons learned in the films of the late twentieth century and early 2000’s drove the buddy film — which promotes these values — to the top of the charts. The last 15 years; however, the buddy comedy has seen a drop-in popularity.
Why the sudden drop? The buddy film, while hilarious, is just not big enough to compete with the action blockbusters that have taken over the film industry. In the past 15 years, the buddy comedy has only been in the top 10 films three years (Box Office Mojo). Ted, The Hangover, and Wedding Crashers snuck past the gauntlet of big production, small indie, and children films to promote the ideals of the buddy film. The lessons that were once a staple in films are now only rarely seen. The Avengers, Iron Man, Batman; what values could these films possibly promote (apart from violence and despair). The industry kept the simplicity and easiness of the buddy comedy, but ditched the values and the lessons, creating a series of paper-town-esque films, void of all purpose beyond corny action, lame jokes, and excessive Easter eggs. The top 10 films of 2016 featured action flicks and cartoons for kids, and it was the cartoons that promoted values like the buddy comedies of the past. The film industry no longer cares for the lessons and values of movies like Police Academy and White Men Can’t Jump.
Some may argue that the buddy film has never promoted values of any kind. That films like Top Gun and Rush Hour have no deeper meaning beyond the crude jokes and simple plots. These films, and films like them, are brilliant, and have more to them than what is immediately thought of. Top Gun ranked 1st in 1985, while touching on topics like the American military, and the importance of friendship. The buddy comedy is simply not a buddy comedy without the promotion of core beliefs and ideals.
The buddy comedy has fallen off the top 10 ranking films in the past 15 years due to an increase in big production blockbuster films, small indie films, and children films. The values that were once promoted by films such as White Men Can’t Jump, and Lethal Weapon are no longer seen in the most popular films of today; which have more focus on telling an overarching story than on promoting important and valuable lessons. Where is the buddy comedy? It is gone, and it will likely never return.
Works Cited:
Box Office Mojo, www.boxofficemojo.com/.
