( 1) Serious movies, and (2) Amusement movies, are two different concepts.

While the meaning of the word ‘amusement’ means that something makes one laugh, it does not mean the opposite. A movie that is designed to amuse is no more than a diversion. While a serious movie adds meaning to one’s life, it also entertains with its story, characters, and plot. The importance of a serious movie is in its ability to instigate thoughts, emotions, and reactions in the viewer.

While serious movies certainly have the potential to provoke thought, humor is just as important, if not greater. A well-made comedy can be more thought-provoking than a serious drama, as is evidenced by the numerous recent films that have garnered critical acclaim. For instance, the 2016 film ‘Moonlight’ tells the story of Chiron, a young black man struggling to find his place in the world. The movie explores many issues, including racism, homophobia, and drug use. The humor in the film is reflected in the many scenes where a character or a character’s reaction is so funny that it overshadows other, sadder scenes. Furthermore, the humor in ‘Moonlight’ complements the film’s serious themes, as it draws the audience in and helps them empathize with the characters or situations. This combination of serious themes with humor gives the viewer a more complete understanding of certain issues, such as racial prejudice, and the movie achieves its goal of provoking thought and emotion in the viewer.

Compared to a serious movie, an amusement movie does not attempt to be anything more than simple entertainment. An amusement movie may incorporate humor, but its primary function is to entertain. Such movies often contain slapstick comedy and outrageous situations. The 2009 film ‘The Hangover’, for instance, is a collection of three stories, all centered on a group of men who go on a bachelor party in Las Vegas. One of the stories involves the groom and his bride-to-be who are mistakenly kidnapped and taken to an island where their captors are waiting for them. The humor in ‘The Hangover’ is broad and slapstick, with some of the scenes bordering on the obscene. However, the slapstick nature of the film does not detract from its entertainment value, and the film holds the audience’s attention and elicits laughter. Furthermore, the outrageous situations in the film provide viewers with an entertaining break from more serious themes. At the same time, viewers can enjoy the humor without necessarily having seen the more serious stories.

In conclusion, while a serious movie may illuminate the viewer, it does not always do so as effectively as a well-made comedy. The humor in a serious movie complements the movie’s more serious messages and can entertain the audience as well. Therefore, it is more effective to combine both elements to create a movie that is both entertaining and effective.