Living in California

I always thought there were small references in the film that a person who'd never spent a fair amount of time in L.A. might not get, like the scene where Harris drives to visit his next door neighbor. Like you said, it doesn't mean people outside of L.A. can't find the movie funny, I just think it might be funnier for people who get how little jokes like that aren't far off from reality.

"How would you know? When I played, you were in your third year of eighth grade."

I live in Michigan and I had no problem understanding most of the jokes. I think only one of them I didn't get and,yet, still kinda understood. (The valets laughing at the guy living in the 'valley'.)

I did get that most people accept or live around other people's eccentricities. The almost non-challant attitude toward getting robbed, that people in L.A. don't walk, that houses are almost always new or remodeled or added to.

I think the movie did a good job in immersing me in the culture. This allowed for me to laugh at things like 'the new cruelty' because it was so acceptable and understandable. Like good natured ribbing.

Don't forget, there's a lot of attention paid to L.A, especially in the Eighties and Nineties. (Beverly Hills Cop, Stand and Deliver, Fast Times, Valley Girl) Having many movies use The City of Angels as a backdrop means that most people in the country already have an idea of what L.A. is like. This is unlike "Escanaba in da Moonlight" where no one knows anything about Escanaba and only Michiganders and Wisconsonites get the jokes.

Yes, Michiganders. Apparently, we're like tribal geese or something.

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i grew up in long beach too! and yes it did make the movie funnier for me, or at least i think it did. my dad worked in LA so I'd be in that area alot and def get the road rage haha great movie, great satire!

Haha...definately. I live in West Hills, but due to private schooling and friends from all over the city, I know LA well. I watched this movie in my film class and most of the little details were hilarious to us. Like the fact that SanDeE* was one of those completely crazy Santa Monica/Venice Beach type people. And the driving to a neighbors, I go to high school and I saw a kid drive into his home across the street the other day.

I can control a wind, sir! I have a hurricane in me that will strip Spain bare!- Elizabeth I