a whole lot of fun and funny in the middle , though somewhat less hard-hitting at the start and finish . 
(ROOT (NP (NP (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ whole) (NN lot)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN fun) (CC and) (JJ funny)))) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (NN middle)))) (, ,) (RB though) (NP (ADJP (RB somewhat) (RBR less) (RB hard) (HYPH -) (VBG hitting)) (PP (IN at) (NP (DT the) (NN start) (CC and) (NN finish)))) (. .)))
(ROOT (NP (NP (NP (NP (DT ) (JJ ) (NN )) (PP (IN ) (NP (NN ) (CC ) (JJ )))) (PP (IN ) (NP (DT ) (NN )))) (, ) (RB ) (NP (ADJP (RB ) (RBR ) (RB ) (HYPH ) (VBG )) (PP (IN ) (NP (DT ) (NN ) (CC ) (NN )))) (. )))