To what extent in your experience do British Comedy films rely on stereotypes?

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To What Extent In Your Experience Do British Comedy Films Tend To Rely On Stereotypes?

British Comedy films, to some extent, do rely on stereotypes. But there are also other aspects that British Comedy films rely on, such as storylines and British culture.

Firstly, stereotypes are something British Comedy films rely on majorly. For example, in the Inbetweeners movie, the young people’s personalities are over exaggerated. This is done so that all of the characters’ traits and stereotypes can be easily recognised. This is shown in the scene at the beginning of the film, when Mr Gilbert, the head of sixth, is lecturing the students on leaving school. Mr Gilbert is the typical teacher who hates his job, and this is emphasised by him insulting the students and swearing, something an ordinary teacher would not do. This is to advertise his character further, but in a comedic way. Also, as he is talking, he is insulting certain personalities. Each time he mentions one, it cuts to that person and they react, for example ‘annoying personalities’ is said, and the shot cuts to Will who is the annoying school ‘grass’, looking over his shoulders and shrugging. Also, in the film ‘Submarine’ there is a scene in the car where the boy’s mother is asking him about his sexual experiences. This is typical of British comedies because there is always a loud, embarrassing parent figure, as proved by the stereotype being repeated in the film ‘Bend It Like Beckham’. Jules is underwear shopping with her Mother and she clearly doesn’t want to know, and her Mother begins loudly discussing Jules’ underwear size etc. This shows that British Comedy, to some extent, relies on stereotypes.

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Although British Comedy does rely somewhat on stereotypes, there are also other aspects that it relies on just as much, such as storylines. Storylines can be typically British, such as in The Full Monty, where some jobless men become male strippers and hide it from their wives. This is typically British because the men are no longer the bread winners in their household, and because of the British reserve and tradition, men have always been the one to go out to work and get paid, and they are going behind their wives backs to get benefits in order to not ...

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