Why are we surprised when popular comedians alter their personae in middle age? Do we feel betrayed by clowns who show their darker sides? Everybody from Chaplin to Robin Williams has tried it, with few succeeding. The record shows that comedians often need to take on a series of dramatic roles before their fan base will accept them.
Tag: judd apatow
Late Spring Round Up: Comedy at the Crossroads
“Baby Mama,” born of talent from “Saturday Night Live,” and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” the latest output from Judd Apatow’s comedy factory, give us the opportunity to reflect on the state of funny in American movies. First “Baby Mama.” Here’s a sharp and funny premise; infertile executive hires trailer trash to carry her baby. So, two […]