SCIENCE FICTION COMEDY

Lately I've been thinking a lot about science fiction comedy. Most likely because I am knee deep in writing one. But it got me thinking of the genre as a whole and what the world has offered up thus far within the genre. But more specifically what the world has offered up within the genre that is genuinely funny AND high quality science fiction.

And at first you go "Okay, Ghostbusters.... Men in Black... Galaxy Quest..." and then you go "Wait... I hate Men in Black" and then you go, "So... Ghostbusters and Galaxy Quest. Cool."

And on second glance (at your DVD shelf) you start to realize the genre is a bit wider than you first thought. There's also Brazil and Starship Troopers. But are either of them really funny? There are definitely some laughs in both, but I don't think it's anywhere near an equal amount of comedy and science fiction. Hell, there's a few laughs in Star Wars but it's by no means a comedy.

Now remember my criteria here: genuinely funny AND high quality science fiction. By very funny I mean would probably make your list of great comedies even without the science fiction element. And by high quality science fiction I mean that it creates a believable world that excites your imagination. A world that you would want to get lost in. A world about which you would want to see/hear/read/play other stories that take place within that world. A world that would have characters you'd want to dress up as and go somewhere where people would point and laugh at you. You know, high quality science fiction.

Lots of movies have one with a little of the other, or lots have one with just a touch of the other, but very few actually have both in equal portions. For example:

Idiocracy -- very funny, not really the best science fiction

Men in Black -- not funny, sci-fi is blah

Spaceballs -- Kinda funny (doesn't really hold up, but as a kid I pissed myself), definitely not good science fiction

Serenity -- Great science fiction, a few funny moments, but definitely not equal portions

Inner Space -- A little bit of both, but not enough of either

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind/Being John Malkovich -- Not enough science fiction really, not exactly laugh out loud type of films

Back to the Future Series -- Some very cool science fiction, and genuinely great films, but I dunno how much I'm really laughing during them, or how "funny" they are.

Sleeper -- yes to the funny, not so much to the science fiction, also the funny doesn't hold up as much as you want it to

They Live -- Great sci-fi, sometimes funny, not really funny enough though

Weird Science -- Not very much of either

The Man With Two Brains -- not enough science fiction

Bill and Teds series -- not really enough of either

Coneheads -- Almost none of either

Dark Star -- Gonna be honest, never seen it. But somehow I doubt it would be enough of either from what I know.

Mars Attacks -- Not enough of either

*batteries not included -- I'm kinda scraping the bottom of the barrel here

Howard the Duck -- Nope, still more barrel

Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy -- Not funny enough as a movie (we'll get to books in a moment)

There are more, but that's a pretty good cross-section of what the world has offered up so far within the genre of science fiction comedy.

Now in the world of books we have a few more options, specifically that of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett. For some reason, these work much better in book form then they do in film or television form. The Hitchhikers series and the Discworld series I think both work equally on comedy and science fiction levels and definitely satisfy all my criteria. I would also add Kurt Vonnegut to the list, specifically that of The Sirens of Titan -- one of the best science fiction comedy works in existence. These are all excellent examples of Science Fiction Comedy. In fact, I'd go so far as to say they are even stronger examples than Ghostbusters or Galaxy Quest.

In fact, when you start to think about Ghostbusters and Galaxy Quest within my criteria they fail in certain areas. Ghostbusters less than Galaxy Quest, but it's not like the world of Galaxy Quest is one that I'm really dying to return to. And Ghostbusters, while it is somewhat limited on the science fiction side of things, I feel is the best example we have in cinema of great science fiction and great comedy. But it's far from perfect.

Which leads me to my final point. We have yet to get our TRULY GREAT science fiction comedy. And this isn't me leading in to saying that I'm the man for the job. I'm just saying... one day I think we'll get our great science fiction comedy. A film that makes you laugh as much as it makes you want to buy its action figures. A film that makes you daydream about the world it has created as much as you do about Star Wars or Asimov, but also makes you laugh as much as you do when watching Spinal Tap or Groundhogs Day (another semi-science fiction comedy, but without enough science fiction).

And I do admit that it's a tough mix of genre's, mainly because comedy (for the most part) is about never taking itself too seriously and science fiction, in order to create a believable world, often has to steer you away from thinking it's silly or ridiculous. And while I also admit that some comedic tones will never work in a science fiction film (I don't think you can have an Anchorman-style science fiction film that could work equally on both levels without basically becoming a spoof) -- I do believe there is a film that can be made that succeeds equally at both.

And one day I want to see that movie.

Let me know if I'm missing any great science fiction comedy works that you know of. I'm all ears.