Funny Movie Character

Question:  What makes a funny movie character?  Let me illuminate…

I love comedy.  LOVE IT!  But it’s also the hardest damn thing in the world.  If you’ve ever told a joke you know that it’s tricky.  You have to deliver it just right otherwise your friends will look at you funny.  Imagine doing that over the course of a TV series or a feature film!  So what are the magic ingredients that help craft a great comedic protagonist?

Below are a few questions and answers.  As always, if you have questions, please leave them in the comments section below.

How does the actor need to portray him?
-Find the truth
-make quirky behavior come from a psychological need, not because its written as quirky.
-Never play the funny
-play the opposite
-playing the funny becomes obvious and the audience tunes out.
-Highest stakes possible..that’s what makes it funny.
-getting worked up over what essentially is a minor problem is funny.

Can comic characters have an arc?
-Most comic protagonists don’t arc. That’s what makes them funny. They don’t learn from their mistakes.
-Not much of an arc: Ferris Beuller, Alvy (Annie Hall), The Geek (16 Candles), Bugs Bunny, Bill Murray, Groucho Marx
-Big arc: Michael Dorsey (Tootsie), Tom Hanks (Big), Jack Lemmon (The Apartment)

Therefore, 2 types of comedic stories. Farces (Animal House, Stripes, Airplane) and tales (The Apartment, Election, Big).

What is the main source of antagonism for a comic protagonist?
-Bumbling characters are their own worst enemy (Inspector Closeau, Michael Dorsey, The Geek, The Jerk)
-Smart Ass characters fight the world (Bugs Bunny, Groucho, Ferris)
-Wimpy guys/boy-men usually fight off A) bullies who are manlier than them or B) The establishment which is riddled with bullies (Animal House, Blues Brothers, SuperBad)

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