While the film and television industry remains dominated by the superhero genre, the reemergence of a rather niche section of the industry is becoming increasingly evident. That is, the mainstream comedy-drama. To specify, the mainstream comedy-drama helmed by comedians. Yes, every year for decades, audiences have been buying tickets to comedy films, with a major increase in the popularity of the hard-R rated comedy post-"Superbad," but a comedy-drama helmed by a comedian her or himself is an entirely different beast. Best showcased by Woody Allen, these films often have a tinge of introspection to balance out their funnier elements. "Annie Hall" is a landmark in this realm of film, having paved the way for many comedians to create honest yet funny films.
Stand up comedian/writer-director Mike Birbiglia recently showcased his newest feature, "Don’t Think Twice," at South by Southwest (SXSW) to tremendous reviews. Much of that praise is coming from its apparent depth in grounded storytelling. This isn’t the comic’s first foray into comedy-drama; the Ira Glass produced film "Sleepwalk with Me" also launched to great reviews in 2012. "Sleepwalk with Me" is an even stronger component to this genre, with the semi-autobiographical tale following a stand-up comedian with a sleepwalking disorder. Often, the comedian-helmed comedy-drama will have a protagonist working within the entertainment industry. This draws parallels to the creator, and more than likely makes for more honest and sometimes meta storytelling.
Aziz Ansari’s Dev in "Master of None" fits this role. "Master of None" follows a commercial actor in New York trying to make heads and tales of his young adult life. Hilarious and captivating, it also touches upon more serious subjects, such as race in the industry, misogyny, and infidelity, all while retaining a comedic air. Aziz Ansari is arguably one of the most popular stand-up comedians of the past decade, finding even steadier footing in this genre.
Amy Schumer’s "Trainwreck" is one of the key factors in the resurgence of this world, being both a critical darling and a massive box office success. According to Box Office Mojo, the Schumer-written film had a worldwide gross of $140.8 million on a production budget of $35 million. With this success, she could very well do for the future of the genre what Woody Allen himself did decades prior. Success stories such as these will hopefully prompt studios to give comedians more liberty and creative control in the industry.
Paul Rust, an improv and stand-up comedian, co-produced the Netflix series "Love." Netflix does not release viewership information for any of their original programming but it has proven to be a hit with critics, scoring an 87 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Following the fateful meeting of an on-set tutor and a radio station employee in Los Angeles, "Love" is packed with all of the bittersweet tension and insightful comedy that has made this genre flourish.
There’s room for all forms of comedy in the film and television industry, but I do think that the increase in pictures and shows such as the aforementioned projects is important. Having intelligent, emotion-driven comedy strengthens the reputability of the industry, along with giving viewers material to reflect upon. The best stories are ones that you can relate to, and possibly learn from.
