Yesterday, actor Adam DeVine (The Intern, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, Game Over, Man) raised a few eyebrows when he suggested that Marvel/superhero movies had something to do with the decline in big-screen comedies.
"Marvel ruined it," DeVine stated during an appearance on Theo Von's podcast. "You go to the theater, and you expect to watch something that cost $200M to make, and comedy movies aren't that ... and they still make those [Marvel] movies kinda funny, like "Oh my god, is that raccoon talking? This is hilarious!' .... which it is, but, it's not a real comedy."
DeVine appeared to be under the impression that, because so many Marvel/superhero films also contain a lot of humor, they would seem like a more exciting prospect for audiences who might be looking for a few laughs than a lower-budgeted comedy that may potentially be playing at the same time.
Now, DeVine has responded to Variety's coverage by clarifying what he meant by his comments.
"As a guy who loves movies and tv it’s cool to be in Variety, but this is misleading. I like Marvel and think these movies are cool. I was saying that studios (in trying to compete with Marvel) have stopped making mid budget comedies. I miss seeing comedy in the theaters!"
The advent of streaming services no doubt played more a role in the decline of the mid-budget comedy being developed for theatres, but still, DeVine may have a point. What do you think? Be sure to share your take in the comments section.
About The Author:
Mark Cassidy is a writer, photographer, amateur filmmaker, and Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic from Dublin, Ireland.