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@JamesEpplerI still get a little bit excited when I see the trailer for a new comedy coming to theaters that ends by telling me it's rated "R." Not to publicly psychoanalyze myself here, but maybe it's because my parents wouldn't let me watch those movies when I was a teenager - some deep-seeded need to laugh at dirty words and sexual situations.
Whatever the reason, most comedies I enjoy carry the Restricted rating ("The Big Lebowski," "Swingers," "Bad Santa" just to name a few). For some reason or another, R-rated comedies just resonate with me more because there aren't strict limitations on how people can speak or act.
To my mind, the resurgence of the R-rated comedy really took hold int he summer of 2005. That's when we saw "Wedding Crashers" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin."
"Wedding Crashers" was particularly surprising because here was a highly promoted summer comedy with two big stars carrying an R-rating. Before the rating was revealed, I just assumed it would be a PG-13 to have broader appeal. Instead, it was a dirty comedy complete with nudity, foul language, and even a particularly raunchy scene at the dinner table. It made a killing at the box office.
I thought "Virgin" was actually a much better and funnier movie, and it signaled the arrival of Judd Apatow as a new voice in the comedy world (even though he'd been around for years with good projects like "Freaks and Geeks" that no one saw). It also made bonafide stars of Steve Carell, Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd.
Since that summer Hollywood has seemed more comfortable taking chances on these kinds of movies. But this year, we've been overloaded with them.
I count 13 R-rated comedies since January..
"Your Highness," "Hall Pass," "The Hangover Part 2," and especially "The Change-Up" all made me have less appreciation for dirty movies. These are movies that use their R-rating as a comedic crutch. From shock humor to just plain lazy writing, these movies weren't just bad - they weren't funny, which to my mind is way worse.
There have been a few ho-hum efforts: "Bad Teacher" and "30 Seconds or Less" were both mildly enjoyable and completely forgettable.
"Bridesmaids" (produced by Apatow, not surprisingly) is probably the best comedy of the year so far. Released in May, it was still in theaters as of a couple weeks ago. That's saying something when so many movies flood theaters every week. I also really enjoyed the small "Cedar Rapids" with Ed Helms released earlier in the year.
I'll also admit to laughing quite a bit at "Horrible Bosses," a brazen send-up of the ignorance and stupidity of white men.
And I'm digging this trend of the occasional R-rated romantic comedy. Ironically, the two that stick out this year have nearly the same plot. "No Strings Attached" and "Friends With Benefits" both indulged in frank talk and even depictions of sex, which is refreshing in the midst of all these flaky Kate Hudson and Anna Ferris offerings.
But since the release of "The Hangover Part 2" in May, each R-rated comedy this summer has opened to a lower box office total than the one before it.
So what's going on here? Are audiences just tired of the raunch? Is it like eating too much pizza or ice cream?
Or perhaps studios will decide they need to up the ante - taking dirty movies to a new level of filth.
Just let it be funny, please.
