Marvel Movies Raised The Bar For Comedy Films Says Seth Rogen

Comic actor, producer, and director Seth Rogen says that, at their core, Marvel Cinematic Universe movies like Ant-Man and Thor: Ragnarok are big-budget comedies. Rogen is currently promoting his latest effort, An American Pickle, in which he stars in dual roles as Herschel Greenbaum, an immigrant to Brooklyn who falls into a vat of pickles for 100 years, and Ben Greenbaum, Herschel's great-grandson who lives in modern-day Brooklyn working as a mobile app developer.

The star also produced the film, the latest in movies that he and producing partner Evan Goldberg have made since their first big hit, Superbad. Other movies the pair have worked on include Sausage Party, This Is The End, Neighbors, and 2019's Good Boys. Most of the movie projects the pair have produced are mid-budget comedies which are relatively cheap and easy to produce and are almost guaranteed to make a return at the box office. While none of those films, barring perhaps Neighbors, were massive smash hits, they've all made a decent enough return at the box office compared to their smaller budgets. This reflects a perceived shift to lower budget comedy movies in recent years, with many, such as An American Pickle, debuting on streaming services thanks to the reputation that comedies have for not making money at the box office.

However, Rogen believes that's not in fact the case. Speaking to GamesRadar+, the Canadian star says that there are big-budget comedies being made. They're just disguised as superhero movies. Rogen pointed to MCU movies like Ant-Man and Thor: Ragnarok, as well as Deadpool saying that they are really just big-budget comedies, even starring comedy stars Paul Rudd and Ryan Reynolds. Rogen adds that comedy filmmakers need to be aware that if they want to make big-budget movies, they're competing with the like of Marvel. You can read his full comments below:

Something that me and Evan talk about a lot is how Marvel movies are comedies. Thor: Ragnarok is a comedy. Ant-Man is a comedy at its core. So that's what's out there. There are $200 million comedies out there, and so that's something, as a comedic filmmaker, to be aware of. That is the benchmark that people expect! If you're going to make a big huge comedy, just know that your competition is like Marvel. Not to say you should not make those types of films, but know that's what audiences are seeing, and that, when you see those movies in theaters, they are playing like comedies. They are legitimately funny and star comedy stars. That's something we talk about a lot – just to be aware of as filmmakers. These huge budget films function like comedies. Audiences still love comedy, and they want that – Deadpool – but the scope of them is huge. So when you're not offering them that scope, you have to think, 'What am I offering them?' That's why something like Good Boys does well, because we're not offering scope. What we're offering is pure comedy and emotion and relatability and nostalgia. That's the trade-off. You don't get to see the God of Thunder being hilarious, but you get to see something that maybe represents your actual life, and that's very gratifying in another way.

Thor and Loki doing "Get Help" in Thor: Ragnarok

Of course, Rogen is correct. Thor: Ragnarok was directed by Taika Waititi, who is best known for his comedies, like What We Do in the Shadows and even Jojo Rabbit, which featured somber, serious material, but treated it as a comedy. And it's not just the obvious candidates. Even movies like Captain America: Civil War are shot through with humor, despite the overarching narrative being serious. As a result, movie fans have come to expect a mix of humor and action from their blockbusters.

Outright comedies, on the other hand, increasingly struggle to find a place in the market. With most people able to watch a host of classic comedies on the streaming services at home, comedy movies have to ensure they are very good in order to make money. This is why Rogen mentions the relatable factor. If comedies feature narratives that reflect our real lives, they have more of a chance of succeeding. On the other hand, if comedies are looking to go big-budget, they'll have to realize, as Rogen says, that they're competing with the MCU.

Next: Worst MCU Movie? Why Marvel Has Never Made A Bad Film

Source: Gamesradar+