Funny people can lift weights too.
One of the most exciting things about writing is that we’re always trying to find new trends, set them, buck them, and then start over. What was once the stoic, hard-core action star of the ’70s and ’80s has evolved into something much funnier today.
It feels like if you’re making almost any action movie (except the Gerard Butler ones), you’re also looking to make a comedy. Stars like The Rock, Jason Statham, and Ryan Reynolds are making a ton of projects not based on being badasses, which they are, but because they can also play funny.
Check out this video from The Take, and let’s talk after.
Unpacking the Buff Clown Trope in Hollywood
Yes, the action star has sort of evolved into something new, something called the “buff clown,” which in turn has become a trope in screenwriting and storytelling. Today, we’re going to unpack just what that means, why they’re fun to write, then look at some examples of the trope from film and TV.
Author: Jason Hellerman
This article comes from No Film School and can be read on the original site.
