Aristotle defines comedy as an increase in fortune of a sympathetic main character. A typical Hollywood version of this is the romantic comedy, where the main characters, who the audience roots to be together throughout the movie, finally do at the end. However, recently, there has been a shift away from this typical comedy, to comedies that are a little more intense and dramatic. In these comedies, the comedic elements serve to lighten the experience for the audience, while more intense themes a and character experiences are explored. This recent trend is now most popular in TV shows, but one movie that fills this, and fits both the mold of a romantic comedy, and Aristotle's definition of comedy is the movie Juno.
The comedy in this movie is its central point, and is developed through the main character, Juno’s journey dealing with her pregnancy in high school. The comedy come through the situations she is put into and her response to them as well as her relationship with the other central character, Paulie. Most of the humor comes from the sarcastic tone of Juno’s dialogue.
The movie delves into more intense topics as it shows Juno’s journey trying to decide what to do after an unwanted pregnancy. It gives insight into the human and emotional side of a polarized issue, but through Juno’s sarcastic dialogue, it keeps this discussion grounded. Not only does Juno’s character keep the portrayal of intense situations funny and lighthearted, but the nature of the movie as a romantic comedy allows for the exploration of these themes, without it becoming the main focus of the movie. The movie does have the typical romantic comedy ending, where the two main characters, despite their struggle, end up together. But this in fact enhances the movie, along with the sarcastic main character, allows the movie to present a deeper understanding of a person’s struggle that keeps the audience engaged, amused, and happy.
Romantic comedies involving teenagers are quite unique because the directors must present the teenagers with heavy emotions. Everyone can empathize with a main character who got accidentally pregnant because of how possible that situation is. The comedic part of the story softens the reality of teen pregnancy and the message.
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