1. British Comedy Revision Lesson LO: Develop opinions about messages and values and the representation of characters in the 3 case study films

3. Ideas about society • BRAINSTORM: • How is society presented in each film (consider “community” and “heritage Britain”)? • Hot Fuzz: • Suggesting evil forces lie beneath “heritage” Britain façade (repressed desires)? That society is imperfect • Contrast British action hero with US action hero? • Presents characters that aspire to the American (film) ideal? • Parallels with/influenced by “Straw Dogs”? • Attack the Block: • Youth are misunderstood and victimised by the authorities but ultimately have good moral qualities • Britain that is presented is the antithesis (opposite) of “heritage” • Wants to be taken seriously at some level? Do the other two films? • Underneath the crime, aggression and poverty, there lies a sense of community • Four Weddings: • “Heritage” Britain (e.g. class hierarchy) – for presentation to US target audience as well as to the UK • Mono-cultural (from a different era – would this be accepted now?) • Character archetypes (caricatures)

4. Extract analysis…

5. Hot Fuzz • 43:05 mins • Consider: • The setting • How the characters are presented (and how Angel might be contrasted with them) • The relationship with Angel and Danny • The genre(s) • The use of humour • Any parallels with US action films • The use of non-diegetic sound

6. When we see Danny and Angel’s relationship start to develop • Other officers laid-back (incompetent?) – Angel is contrasted to them – never switches off • Angel genuinely wanted to be a policeman (noble motives? Sad story? Heroic features to his character?) Danny looks up to Angel • Comedy from Danny mostly (and Angel’s response to him) – clown • Parody of US action film – male bonding (epic music and slow zoom) but in English pub (quintessentially English symbol)

7. Attack the Block • 11:00 mins • Consider: • How ethnicity and social class are represented • The setting • The genre • How humour is used • Compare Ron to Danny from Hot Fuzz (Nick Frost)

8. Samantha, Brewis – middle class, positioned as outsiders, intimidated (but Sam is a stronger character) by the youth gang • Setting – cinematography and sound to represent it • Stereotypical “block” • Uneducated – want to make money • Ron (Nick Frost) – comedic vehicle? The “clown”? Caricature? • Younger boys aspiring to be part of the gang – vicious cycle?

9. Four Weddings • 12:00 mins • Consider: • How Charles is presented and his relationship with Carrie – any thoughts about the vicar Gerald? • How humour is used • The setting • The representation of ethnicity

10. Reserved (“if they they’re not English”) and awkward (and prone to making mistakes – unintentionally charming?) – British stereotypes? • Debonair? Suave, sophisticated, charming, noble… • Setting (and event itself) – “heritage” UK (i.e. old-fashioned, idealised, upper and upper middle class) • Self deprecatory humour? Deadpan, sarcasm

11. Four Weddings Attack the Block Brainstorm similarities and differences Hot Fuzz

12. Four Weddings Attack the Block • Romance/melodrama/ • romcom (classic/traditional genre) • Tension between • genres? • Audience “care” about • characters? • Sci-fi hybrid • Doesn’t have orthodox (Todorov) happy ending • Presents urban Britain (contrast to “heritage Britain”?) • More obvious message? (treatment of youth by society, social segregation) • Younger target audience • Dual target audience – UK and US? • Upper-middle/ upper class characters • Idealised narrative? • Low(ish) budgets • Hybrid genres but • defined by “British” humour • Deadpan humour • Farcical/slapstick humour • Anti-hero (explore their journey of discovery) • “Clown” caricature character(s) • Postmodern? • Macabre/black humour • Satire (film’s message: critical of society?) • Male dominated • Unique hybrid genres: audience don’t have defined expectations? • “Happy” ending (Todorov) • Heritage UK • Financially successful films • Romance/bromance • Parody of action, gothic, surreal, murder mystery genres • Heavily inter-textual • Sense of community (does ATB ultimately have this?) • Explicitly influenced by US action films Hot Fuzz

13. schadenfreude

14. Joe Cornish - ATB • Mike Newell – 4W • Edgar Wright - HF

15. Oppositions to explore • Orthodox vs unorthodox (in terms of genre) – “predictable pleasures”, ending of films • Rural vs urban • Upper class vs working class • Mono-cultural vs multi-cultural • Niche vs mass-market (US appeal) • Heritage vs real Britain