[…] I’d also ask you to think about why the dialogue is notable. Is there anything about the dialogue which provides some …read more […]

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988) Written by Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Pat Proft Sport Announcer #1: While the fans are waiting for the first pitch, they are being entertained by the stadium's Angel Vision, showing some unusual moments in baseball over the years! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okPgKHMDxIQ Comment: This line (and the following battery of absurd visual jokes) was a great way to make the viewer aware of the existence of a device (the jumbotron) that will play a very important role later. It feels natural since it' embedded in comedy.

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004) written by: Rawson Marshall Thurber Any of the comments Pepper Brooks (an awesome Jason Bateman cameo) says... Cotton McKnight: It looks like the clock is about to strike midnight on this Cinderella story, turning Average Joe's into the proverbial pumpkin. Pepper Brooks: I sure do like pumpkins, Cotton. - Cotton McKnight: Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to witness the greatest happening in sport: sudden-death dodgeball. Pepper Brooks: Pepper needs new shorts! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84cwztN3nms

The Replacements (2000) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6ozn5tP570 "What do you do here John?" "You go for it pat; you have to." "But Falco's been shut down by this defense all afternoon." "Yea, but, I'll tell you this; all it takes is one big play to get him back in the ball-game." Falco leans in for the kiss "...And here goes Falco." Annabelle kisses him back "Falco scores! Falco scores!" John Madden...and Pat Summerall?? Nuff said. I mean, what a great scene! The Police playing 'Every Breath You Take' in the background, and having both characters just eye each-other, both awaiting the next person's move... you couldn't write a more romantic scene (But, they did.) Not only do the announcers amuse us with an ample supply of backstory and exposition; transitioning from one scene to the next, as shown above, but they also add this playfulness- by way of SUBTEXT.

SLAP SHOT (1977) written by Nancy Dowd JIM CARR: Hi. Jim Carr again. Denis, I know that some in our audience don't know the finer points of hockey. Could you tell them, for example, what is icing? DENIS LEMIEUX: Well, icing happen when the puck come down, bang, you know,before the other guys, nobody there, you know. My arm go comes out, then the game stop then start up. JIM CARR:I see. What is high-sticking? DENIS LEMIEUX:High-sticking happen when the guy take the stick, you know, and he go like that. You don't do that. JIM CARR: You don’t do that? DENIS LEMIEUX: Oh, no. Never, never. JIM CARR:Why not? DENIS LEMIEUX:Against the rules. You stupid when you do that, some English pig with no brains... JIM CARR:Denis, what is slashing? DENIS LEMIEUX:Slashing is like that, you know? JIM CARR:Mm-hm. And there's a penalty for that? DENIS LEMIEUX:Yeah. And for trip also, you know. JIM CARR:Oh? DENIS LEMIEUX:Like that. And for hook like this. And for spear, you know, like that. JIM CARR:Mm-hm. DENIS LEMIEUX:All bad. You do that, you go to the box, you know. Two minutes by yourself, and you feel shame, you know. JIM CARR:Mm-hm. DENIS LEMIEUX:And then you get free. JIM CARR:The Chiefs are at home against Hyannisport at the War Memorial at eight. Good seats are still available. I think that went very well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_w4MV_LwMw Dialogue takeaway: A great contrast here between Denis's evocative broken English and Jim Carr's perfectly correct but one-dimensional patter.