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people&arts Thursday 13 July 2017

Can big-screen comedy survive the superhero era?

By JAKE COYLE of a sudden, I start noticing
AP Film Writer that people keep asking for
NEW YORK (AP) — Days be- comedies to look like other
fore the opening of the Will comedies. And we keep
Ferrell-Amy Poehler com- saying, ‘Yeah, but com-
edy “The House,” producer edies have to be original.’”
Adam McKay could see But “original” can be a
the writing on the wall. The scary word in today’s Hol-
box-office forecast for the lywood. Thus the “Ghost-
film wasn’t looking good. busters” reboot, thus “Bay-
In the end, “The House” watch.” At the same time,
opened with just $8.7 mil- other formats — “Old
lion, the latest in an in- School”-like party movies,
creasingly long line of for example — have grown
comedy flops. “The House” a little stale from overuse.
may have had its problems “What I think you’re see-
(Warner Bros. opted to not ing in the last three years
even screen it for critics) is just fatigue with those
but what stood out about structures,” McKay says.
the result was how dispirit- This image released by Warner Bros Pictures shows Will Ferrell, left, and Amy Poehler in a scene “They did the worst thing
ingly typical it was. from, “The House.” that a comedy can ever
“This has just been happen- do, which is start to feel
ing a lot. If it’s not our com- Laughs are drying up at the the blockbuster agenda of and develop them. And familiar. I really think this
edies, it’s other comedies multiplex, and it’s a trend risk-adverse Hollywood. now it feels like times have isn’t permanent. It’s going
from friends of ours that just that goes beyond this sum- “They really want these changed. Unless you bring to break out but what it’s
are underperforming very mer. Last year, the shock- movies to work in China them a script with an ac- going to require is three or
consistently,” said McKay, ingly poor performance of and Russia, and comedies tor or actress and a direc- four accidents to happen
whose production com- Andy Samberg’s “Popstar” don’t always work like tor and it’s all packaged, again, like ‘Austin Powers’
pany with Ferrell makes ($9.6 million in its entire run) that,” says Apatow. there’s not a lot of chances and ‘Anchorman.’”
a handful of comedies a foreshadowed the trouble In interviews with many top to get comedies made. We Both of those films also de-
year. to come. There have been names in comedy, as well have a nice reputation so pended on a long afterlife
Unless the upcoming “Girls some successes (“Bad as numerous studio execu- we’re able to get our mov- on home video; comedies
Trip” — promoted as the Moms,” ‘’Sausage Party,” tives, many in Hollywood ies made most of the time. historically have been es-
black, female version of ‘’Trainwreck,” ‘’Central In- expressed optimism that a But I feel like there’s not as pecially strong sellers after
“The Hangover” — breaks telligence,” ‘’Spy,”) but it’s turnaround could and will many young comedy writ- theatrical release. “You
out, this summer will likely been a long while since be sparked by something ers writing movies. I think a can’t really do that now,”
pass without a big comedy a cultural sensation like fresh and exciting — a “Get lot of them are headed to- says producer Michael De
hit. “Rough Night,” ‘’Bay- “The 40 Year-Old Virgin,” Out” for comedy. But they ward television and I think Luca, who championed
watch” and “Snatched” ‘’The Hangover” or “Brides- also described an unmis- that’s bad for the movies.” “Austin Powers” at New Line
have all disappointed maids.” takable sense that the era The comedies that have and produced comedies
despite the star power The downturn begs the of “Superbad,” ‘’Pineapple managed to get made like “Rush Hour” and “The
of Scarlett Johansson, question: Can the big- Express” and “Step Broth- have often recycled many Love Guru.” ‘’You have to
Dwayne Johnson and Amy screen comedy survive the ers” may be closing — and of the familiar, previously be a theatrical event when
Schumer, respectively. The superhero era? As studios that an increasingly restric- profitable formulas. McKay you open.”
lone sensation has been have increasingly focused tive Hollywood landscape has watched marketing De Luca recalled the
the Kumail Nanjiani-led, on intellectual property- is partly to blame. departments increasingly thunderbolt experience
Judd Apatow produced backed franchises that play “It does worry me because dictate which comedies of reading the spec script
“The Big Sick.” But that Li- around the globe, come- it feels like the studios aren’t get greenlit. for “American Pie,” which
onsgate-Amazon release is dies are getting squeezed. developing as many com- “That’s their whole thing: heralded the explosion of
a specialty one; it’s made Though usually relatively edy scripts,” adds Apa- ‘What’s the formula so R-rated comedy. “I do feel
$6.8 million in three weeks inexpensive propositions, tow. “In the old days, they we can go to the board- like these things are cycli-
of limited release. comedies often don’t fit used to buy a lot of scripts room?’” says McKay. “All cal,” says De Luca. q

Loretta Lynn at home after stroke,

will delay next album

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — layed until next year and stronger every day and her
Country legend Loretta all her remaining tour dates main focus is on making a
Lynn is back at home af- this year have been can- full recovery.
ter a stroke she suffered in celed. Her next album, “Wouldn’t
May. A statement released It Be Great,” on Sony Mu-
Her new album will be de- Wednesday by her record sic Legacy Recording was
label said the 85-year-old scheduled to be released
singer-songwriter is back at in August, but Lynn said in
her home in Tennessee af- the statement she want-
ter a stay at a rehabilitation ed to wait until next year In this March 17, 2016, file photo, Loretta Lynn performs at the
facility. so she can give it her full BBC Music Showcase at Stubb’s during South By Southwest in
Lynn said she’s getting attention.q Austin, Texas. Associated Press