Criticizing humor seems to come easily for a lot of us non-practitioners. An undercurrent of disrespect accompanies so much scrutiny of the comedic arts, with critics holding even the best, brightest, and most accomplished funny folks to impossible standards (as a number of commenters have done on this thread).
Two thoughts: 1.) many assume comedy to be as effortless as legends such as Brooks make it seem; 2. An audience may feel disproportionate resentment towards a jester when 100% of jokes don't land 100% of the time. It's an impossible standard, and we rarely apply similar critical rigor to other artists.
Great comedy's very essence relies on doing the unexpected, on challenging people's cherished assumptions and dogma, on speaking truth to power, and skewering human "normalcy" from an outsider's perspective.
Exceptional comics take the most risks. In being innovative and in stretching their range, they may not feel as consistent or as easily pleasing as folks who repeat the same set night after night or who cater to the egos of their audience or their patrons, &c. But they're ultimately the smartest and the most satisfying, and they reward rewatching over an entire lifetime. Handed down along successive generations, even.
Mel Brooks is a powerhouse writer, actor, director, producer, satirist, activist, and historian. This is a classic comedy and a masterpiece for far more reasons than a missed joke here or there could possibly outweigh.
Two thoughts: 1.) many assume comedy to be as effortless as legends such as Brooks make it seem; 2. An audience may feel disproportionate resentment towards a jester when 100% of jokes don't land 100% of the time. It's an impossible standard, and we rarely apply similar critical rigor to other artists.
Great comedy's very essence relies on doing the unexpected, on challenging people's cherished assumptions and dogma, on speaking truth to power, and skewering human "normalcy" from an outsider's perspective.
Exceptional comics take the most risks. In being innovative and in stretching their range, they may not feel as consistent or as easily pleasing as folks who repeat the same set night after night or who cater to the egos of their audience or their patrons, &c. But they're ultimately the smartest and the most satisfying, and they reward rewatching over an entire lifetime. Handed down along successive generations, even.
Mel Brooks is a powerhouse writer, actor, director, producer, satirist, activist, and historian. This is a classic comedy and a masterpiece for far more reasons than a missed joke here or there could possibly outweigh.