I don’t find Michael Cera funny
October 15, 2008 8:55 am Movies, Television
I really don’t. Maybe this proves that I’m completely disconnected from pop culture (which wouldn’t be a bad thing), but I’m sorry; he doesn’t amuse me at all. I didn’t find Arrested Development funny in the slightest, and in films like Superbad, Cera was the straight man to others’ antics. I realize that role’s importance in the realm of comedy, but I don’t think it makes him funny at all. Or take Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist; I’ve seen people laugh at loud at Cera’s lines in the trailers. Why? Why?! They’re not funny at all! I know taste is subjective, but come the fuck on. Cera seems to be a decent actor, but he’s not the “comic genius” that many make him out to be. (Not to mention the fact that he plays the same character in every film!) If he’s the future of comedy, then holy shit, the world’s going to become a decidedly unfunny place.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:56 AM
I think the way you feel about Michael Cera is the way I feel about Will Ferrell.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:14 AM
I can’t stand Will Ferrell, either.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:57 PM
Superbad is the only thing that Cera’s been in that has really allowed him to shine. Comedy nerds–and I say this as a comedy nerd–really dig it when a joke surprises them, because they becomes so immersed in comedy that they can presuppose pretty much any joke. I think the growing efficiency of mass communication has created more comedy nerds, so maybe this is why dry humor has been in the vogue, lately. Cera’s jokes are curve balls, and comedy nerds love curveballs; and as with the pitcher who throws the curveball, the audience gets the fun of wondering just how he got it to do that so elegantly.
For future reference, comedy nerds mostly prefer two types of humor: absurdity and dry humor. This is because–as I mentioned before–comedy nerds are good enough at picking out jokes that jokes told too directly don’t function and jokes deftly hidden will be appreciated as some rare gem.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:46 PM
I quite liked Arrested Development, but I was disappointed to see him playing George Michael again and again other different names.