Training Day

The movie Training Day, starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke, on the surface does not seem like a comedy at all. When you look at the story of Alonzo, a main character of the movie, the movie seems more like a tragedy. However, by the definition presented by Aristotle, Ethan Hawke presents a character that ultimately fits the definition of the, "Ordinary Person" comedian.

Training Day is a movie that chronicles the day of a new police officer named Jake. He's shown the ropes by an accomplished and well-known cop named Alonzo. While Alonzo is showing Jake the ins and outs of being a cop in urban areas, Jake's presented with incidents that question Alonzo's techniques and whether he's doing it for the right reason. Ultimately, Jake finds himself in situations that threaten his life because he's trying to do the right thing. Alonzo is ultimately murdered tragically after his corrupt ways are exposed.

While the ending of the movie is Alonzo being murdered in his car after his was exposed, the ending for Jake is a much different one. Throughout the entire day of being lied to and misled, Jake keeps his integrity. He's always trying to do his job to the best of his abilities, which is doing what is right. By Aristotle's definition, the ordinary person is someone who is generally of lower to middle class, and is involving an ordinary task. Like succeeding at a job. That's exactly what Jake is. He's a dad with a wife and a new born bay, trying to make a living, and do what his job description tells him. Furthermore, the movie teaches us that doing your job and doing the right thing is what is rewarded. Jake was honest, sincere, and able to go back home to his family. Alonzo was deceptive, cruel, and was killed because of it.

Jake is the comedy in the movie. Alonzo is the tragedy.