Most of us cry at the same things. The death of a beloved character, the dashing of fondest hopes, the end of a beautiful romance all bring cozy tears when viewed from a comfortable distance. But comedy is even more personal than drama. We don't always laugh at the same things. One viewer may roar at the now-prevalent bathroom humor with the abandonment of a gleeful infant.
Comedies provoke the greatest debates among movie fans.
I rank high on the hate list of Frank Capra devotees. I'm prepared to be denounced as a heretic by Capra's true believers. I've also suffered a lifetime allergy to Jerry Lewis, who seems always to be simply giving a performance. His acolytes insist that there's a method to his madness. I see only the madness and have never found it riotous.