Två main reasons:
Your first point is definitely a big trend. Studios either target a niche audience (like horror or art house maybe), which don't have the size to support larger budgets. Or they go after the larger more casual crowd, but then they compete against the blockbusters. Not only on the production budget side, but importantly also in marketing.
I guess the question is if these kinds of comedies could somehow be done on a lower budget.
They still make them, it’s just that they aren’t super mainstream anymore and most people who grew up with them grew out of that type of humour, and the nostalgia is what’s hitting them for those movies.
Seth Rogen still makes them, the guys from workaholics made one not too long ago, there’s some other good fringe ones I’ve seen.
They still exist, but the comedians you're nostalgic for doing them have gotten old now. And watching an old man trying to carry on like a teenager is more pathetic than funny.
Christopher Lloyd in Camp Nowhere is the only exception. It's fun to see a burned out hippie trying to understand what happening.
Christopher Lloyd will always be the exception. I wouldn't bat an eyelid at him playing any role
Don't forget about all the Harold and Kumars, pineapple express, basically every other movie with Seth rogan, all the bill and Ted's, Project x, role models, tropic thunder, horrible bosses, 21 jump street, etc. Some of these are also older, but I do think there are a lot more out there than you're listing
Hollywood budgets have ballooned and killed mid-budget pictures. Typically these would be genre pieces like comedy or horror movies. I think horror could be in a similar shape to comedy if it weren't for A24 producing a lot of mid budget films.
Big budget action/comic book movies are still seen like a better investment because audiences have only just started losing interest from a very high peak.
Here's a sleeper hit:
Strange Wilderness
Get high as a kite and check it out. Check back in with me later and tell me you didn't giggle your tits off.
"I p-p-painted eyeballs on my eye lids so p-p-people would think I'm awake when I'm asleep."
That guy cracks me up. His intonation and delivery is perfect.
Though I'm pretty sure he says he tattooed them on his eyelids, which begs the question of where they went after the scene.
"The oil looks a little thick, maybe I should add some water to it" became a go-to for me.
They're just not that funny
Don't forget How High.
I appreciate this movie for introducing my hip hop friends to Rammstein
Probably just need some screenwriter to come up with a good idea, shop it around to a bunch of studios who all say "no" then go to their staff writers to write up a knock off that won't get them sued. ("What if there's a stoner who starts out good for nothing but has a redemption arc? That's genius!!")
So then instead of the originally written good version you get 5 campy hack versions that all get cranked out in 6 to 12 months. If the screenwriter can pull it off she'll develop hers independently and get it out in 18 months but be accused of being unoriginal.
If you ever notice a bunch of similar movies coming out within 6 months of each other, this is pretty much why that happens.
That's a good point. I really need to start seeing who wrote things more than looking at directors and studios. Maybe the funny writers are working on stuff that looks serious, but is actually filled with jokes.
Smiley Face with Anna Farris. It’s not new but truly is a hidden gem of a stoner comedy. Really weird themes about ideologies sprinkled all through as well.
Warning: Danny Masterson has a side role in it and plays a terrifying creep. Also the CGI effects at the ending are laughable
They go in phases. Really the peak was the Cheech and Chong era, then they vanished for 20 years, came back for Harold and Kumar, Clerks, etc.
You're right I feel like I see less of movies like that. Not saying they're good or I'd want to watch them, but scrolling through rotten tomatoes "Ricky Stanicky" and "Snack Shack" look like they'd fit in that genre and both came out this year.
Ricky Stanicky is a comedy, but it isn’t a stoner film. It is more like a lighter version of The Hangover with less drugging and drinking. 7/10, it was a fun romp with John Cena.
Haven’t seen “Snack Shack” though.
maybe Sausage Party? It's animated but yeah i can't think of any either
Sausage party was basically /r/atheism fan fiction
I really enjoyed Bottoms, could give that a shot.
I've been eyeballing that one. One endorsement is good enough for me!
Comedy has taken itself too seriously in recent years. Having a goofy premise or an outrageous hero was normal. They need something to sell and taking the risk is not in the cards for most producers.
Maybe you can get Kevin Smith to open a production company for comedians.
Cocaine Bear , The Treasure of Foggy Mountain, Palm Springs, and Good Boys are recent ones that have that feel.
Big Lebowski is a stoner movie, just not a shitty one
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