MovieChat Forums > Burn After Reading (2008) Discussion > Why the 'Comedy' tag?

Why the 'Comedy' tag?

posted 11 years ago by Destiny_Cloud_Fist
18 replies | jump to latest

It seems every film just throws in the comedy tag just because they can - this is a mistake, a lot of people skip a film because when they see comedy they think of Adam Sandler making turd jokes.

Burn After Reading is definitely NOT a comedy. It's funny, but it's not TRYING to be funny. It's simply funny because of how it is, not because it's made into a comedy.

If we start putting everything with a laugh or smile into comedy tag then we're gonna see Titanic in comedy eventually.

[–] Elephantlips 11 years ago

The movie is 100% a dark comedy. I don't see how you could possibly place it in any other classification.

Maybe you didn't get the jokes...

[–] madpogue 10 years ago

Keyword - DARK comedy.

OP is correct, that typical viewer will expect fart jokes and dumb faces when a movie is billed as a "comedy". But OP is incorrect in thinking that BAR is NOT a comedy. It's just the kind of comedy that far too few people "get".

And it's not that hard to "get" this kind of comedy. You just have to put aside your notion that all comedy is "lead-in, set-up, punch-line". When you see the humor that's embedded in most bitter irony, it's easy to find the comedy in a movie like BAR.

[–] trigun_78 11 years ago

Brad Pitt. That's all I have to say. His character alone made this a comedy. Him ALONE.

[–] zwiltsh 9 years ago

"Brad Pitt. That's all I have to say. His character alone made this a comedy. Him ALONE."

Agree.

[–] KeinHandyBeiFilmen 9 years ago

Exactly! Great comment

[–] PhoenixPhuck 10 years ago

OP is completely wrong.

Burn After Reading is definitely intentionally funny.

Even the most primitive society has an innate respect for the insane.

[–] Don_Cheech 10 years ago

It's definitely more comedic than anything else. I mean what genre would you put it under ..? Ya know

[–] ScottNichols 10 years ago

I think if it's funny, intentionally or not, it's a comedy. IMDb accurately labels this movie a mixed genre--comedy/crime/drama.

C'mon, Chad's dance move isn't trying to be funny? There are lines in the movie that are trying to be funny as well.

There were lines and actions in Fargo that were trying to be funny.

Those parts sure make me laugh.

These Coen movies accurately reflect the fact that society can be so stupid that it's funny. You don't have to look hard to see it in this world.

**Actors do not have a job...they have a blast!**

[–] elbwafel 10 years ago

definitely a sci fi film

[–] TimmyAnn 10 years ago

Not appealing to your personal sense of humor doesn't mean it is not a comedy.

I do not have attention deficit disor...Ooh, look at the bunny! 

[–] Snoppkaka 10 years ago

This is definitely a comedy. It is also intentionally a comedy.