Superdumb

While often less sophisticated than other genres, comedy has the unique ability to help us take ourselves less seriously. Sure there exist some comedies that tell a truly inspirational story or make a profound social commentary, but the vast majority of them are just "dumb". I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, as being able to laugh at relatable situations allows us to, in effect, laugh at ourselves.

Perhaps the peak example of "dumb comedy" is Superbad. The plot is remarkably crude: two nerdy high school seniors need to get some booze for their party so that they can (you guessed it) impress their respective crushes. On paper it sounds like drivel, but it's hard not to laugh when you're watching. The two "comic heroes" aren't glorified party animals, but are instead awkward kids who manage to fumble through every social interaction. Watching them attempting to talk to girls or pass off their friend's fake ID at the liquor store is cringeworthy, yet that's exactly where the film's value comes from.

The characters in Superbad are incredibly relatable to many of us, but that alone doesn't make the movie worth watching. Sure we as viewer like relatability, but it does nothing meaningful on it's own. The fact that they completely fail gives us a chance to laugh at not only their absurdity, but the absurdity of our own antics. Social ineptitude is unsurprisingly a touchy subject for most people, so comedies like Superbad provide the perfect outlet to step back and take oneself a little less seriously. The ability comedies give to find the humor in our own mistakes and flaws is hugely important, particularly for the self concious teengers we all are. Although they may lack nuance and stand-alone value, the personal effects comedy can have certainly makes them meaningful as an art form.