We can laugh at comedies like this for two reasons: Because we feel superior to the characters, or because we pity or like them. I do not much like laughing down at people, which is why the comedies of Adam Sandler make me squirmy (most people, I know, laugh because they like him). In the case of Napoleon Dynamite, I certainly don't like him, but then the movie makes no attempt to make him likable. Truth is, it doesn't even try to be a comedy. It tells his story and we are supposed to laugh because we find humor the movie pretends it doesn't know about.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Ebert explains that laughter in comedy stems from either feeling superior to characters or pitying/liking them. He argues Napoleon Dynamite works because it tells a story where humor exists without the film trying to make the protagonist likable.
- In plain terms
- Comedy makes us laugh when we feel better than the characters or when we care about them.
- What can you take from it?
- Effective comedy often relies on genuine storytelling rather than forcing likability.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why do you laugh at specific scenes?
- Is likability necessary for comedy?
Another view
This analysis overlooks other reasons people laugh, such as absurdity or timing.
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