Friends: The Movie

[ST-One]

I watched the show occasionally when it was on the air, mostly because a girl I was interested in at the time loved it. Then in reruns because my sister insisted on watching it. On the whole though, I found it to be superficial, saccharine, and annoying. Yeah there were a few funny things here and there but I still believe Frasier was the superior comedy at the time.

Frasier on the other hand.... Frasier The Movie: Maris' Revenge

Now that I would watch!

You know, I was going to say something, but these quotes will suffice.

...

Well, okay. I think Frasier had an excellent conclusion, so while I'd love a film regardless (and am far more likely to see it than a Friends picture) I wouldn't be lobbying hard for it. Also, although presumably the hypothetical Friends picture would forego a laugh track, would it do anything else to appear cinematic aside from length and probably more camerawork?

Also, extending a half-hour sitcom into a feature film can be difficult structurally. The Simpsons Movie felt overlong.

Not that I think it would (or should) ever happen, but Frasier, IMO, sure has the potential given these great characters and actors/actresses and writers.

But I still have to see the last two seasons; the DVDs haven't been released yet for Region 2 (at end of this month and at the end of September).

 

[Jon1701]

Friends was fucking awesome. I won't have a bad word said against it. Consistently funny with a great ensemble cast.

Not sure whether it would work as a movie though. All the stuff in London filmed on location didn't really play too well.

 

[Kegek]

But I still have to see the last two seasons; the DVDs haven't been released yet for Region 2 (at end of this month and at the end of September).

I've seen them. Paramount Comedy has the entire series in a continuous loop. (I still find myself tuning in regularly - nothing like a spot of Frasier to brighten the day.) I don't think Frasier ever jumped the shark, and though I don't want to spoil the finale, I'll just let you know I was entirely satisfied with it - the title character in particular was given the send-off he deserved. That's my only real trepidation about a film, I've no doubt the cast and the writers could pull it off.

Much apologies to Friends fans for derailing the thread; but in my defence, I didn't start it. I merely perpetuated it.

 

[TGTheodore]

Well, okay. I think Frasier had an excellent conclusion, so while I'd love a film regardless (and am far more likely to see it than a Friends picture) I wouldn't be lobbying hard for it. Also, although presumably the hypothetical Friends picture would forego a laugh track, would it do anything else to appear cinematic aside from length and probably more camerawork?

As much as people say they despise laugh tracks, the tracks are an essential part of the "feeling" of the series. A Frasier or Friends movie without a laugh track but with the original TV cast would just seem odd "in some way" to most people, and inherently less funny.

That's a main problem with big screen remakes of 60's and 70's shows in general. The Nude Bomb was not only a bad movie, but Don Adams delivering punchlines in same way as his TV series (but with no payoff laughter) was phenomenally embarrassing. The laugh track was very much another character in the flavor of classic sitcoms.

Of course, with a new cast, you have a whole new feeling and the laugh track is not missed.

--Ted

 

[Kegek]

As much as people say they despise laugh tracks, the tracks are an essential part of the "feeling" of the series. A Frasier or Friends movie without a laugh track but with the original TV cast would just seem odd "in some way" to most people, and inherently less funny.

I see your point, but the intent of the laugh track is to simulate a large audience - which, at least in the theatrical release of a Friends or Frasier picture, would feel redundant. (It'd make sense as a DVD extra, though.)

 

[Trekker4747]

Well, okay. I think Frasier had an excellent conclusion, so while I'd love a film regardless (and am far more likely to see it than a Friends picture) I wouldn't be lobbying hard for it. Also, although presumably the hypothetical Friends picture would forego a laugh track, would it do anything else to appear cinematic aside from length and probably more camerawork?

As much as people say they despise laugh tracks, the tracks are an essential part of the "feeling" of the series. A Frasier or Friends movie without a laugh track but with the original TV cast would just seem odd "in some way" to most people, and inherently less funny.

One thing that helped was that Friends and Seinfeld were filmed infront of a studio audiance so the "laugh tracks" were genuine and not canned laughter dubbed in later. There was plenty of times in filming Seinfeld the audiance had to be restrained to prevent the "waiting for the laughter to calm down" pause that permeates many sitcoms.

 

[ST-One]

Well, okay. I think Frasier had an excellent conclusion, so while I'd love a film regardless (and am far more likely to see it than a Friends picture) I wouldn't be lobbying hard for it. Also, although presumably the hypothetical Friends picture would forego a laugh track, would it do anything else to appear cinematic aside from length and probably more camerawork?

As much as people say they despise laugh tracks, the tracks are an essential part of the "feeling" of the series. A Frasier or Friends movie without a laugh track but with the original TV cast would just seem odd "in some way" to most people, and inherently less funny.

One thing that helped was that Friends and Seinfeld were filmed infront of a studio audiance so the "laugh tracks" were genuine and not canned laughter dubbed in later. There was plenty of times in filming Seinfeld the audiance had to be restrained to prevent the "waiting for the laughter to calm down" pause that permeates many sitcoms.

The same was true for Frasier... In the audio-commentary for 'The Matchmaker' (Season 2) it is stated that they had to cut down the audience laughter because it just went on too long.

 

[splodenode]

i do not approve of this movie

 

[Paxil]

If its a horror flick where they get picked off in gruesome ways by that weird guy at the coffee bar, then I'm in...

 

[The Nth Doctor]

You could call it Gunther's Revenge.

 

[TGTheodore]

One thing that helped was that Friends and Seinfeld were filmed infront of a studio audiance so the "laugh tracks" were genuine and not canned laughter dubbed in later. There was plenty of times in filming Seinfeld the audiance had to be restrained to prevent the "waiting for the laughter to calm down" pause that permeates many sitcoms.

True, but for 11 seasons on each show you still heard joke-then-laughter. Regardless of it being canned. If you just hear "joke" and then silence, it will seem very different in a feature.

Again, not agreeing or disagreeing with studio laughter, it would just be very different without it.

And someone else brought up the location problem which is also true. The standing sets and stock camera work for both shows are so much a part of the visual style of each series, that their absence (or change) would be a mjaor change to a feature version of the film.

So many things different visually and audially, the feel of each film would be profoundly different.

--Ted