Write That Script

Just watched 30 Minutes or Less with the commentary.  I was astounded at one part where the director, Ruben Fleischer, was perplexed that the physical aspect of a gag didn’t get the laugh immediately:

“What’s funny is that they don’t laugh until he reacts.  When the blue paint blows nobody laughs.  It’s only until he yell’s ‘Ahh’ that people laugh.  It’s a really weird delight thing…”

I thought that it was common knowledge among comedians and comic directors and writers that the reaction is what gets the laugh.  Actually it’s the combination of the action and the reaction.  But it’s the reaction that cues the audience that it’s okay to laugh.  This was a point that was hammered home by Howard Suber at UCLA over and over again.  I wonder how many comedy writers, directors and editors are unaware of this simple truism.