The reason I cited an un-Shakespearian example of a jester in my last post is because Shallow Hal received a 51% rating on Rottentomatoes.com versus Notting Hill's 83% rating in which the character Spike plays a very Shakespearian jester.
There are many factors that can contribute to these two movies' differing ratings, but I will cite more examples below of movies with Shakespearian jesters (meaning that their characters are complex, intellectual, and helpful to the protagonists) and non-Shakespearian jesters (two-dimensional buffoons):
Higher-rated comedy:
My Best Friend's Wedding received a 71% rating: The jester in this story is George Downes, played by Rupert Everett. As I've discussed in a previous post, George's jesterial "deformity" is the minority-inducing factor that he's homosexual. He is flamboyant and comedic, particularly when he causes an entire restaurant to break out in song. George offers a Shakespearian jester character because he is constantly giving Julianne advice. ("George: Look, tell him you love him, bite the bullet. Julianne: George, What will he do? George: He'll choose Kim, you'll stand beside her at the wedding, kiss him goodbye, and go home. That's what you came here to do, so do it.")
You've Got Mail received a 69% rating: The jester in this story is Kevin Jackson. I've mentioned Kevin's character before in a previous post, yet in analyzing him, I find no real depth to his character. He offers one piece of advice, but it is mainly comical. ("You're taking it to the next level. I always do that. I always take a relationship to the next level, and if it works okay I take it to the next level after that, until I can finally get to the level where it becomes absolutely necessary for me to leave.") Thus, the jester is somewhat in between a Shakespearian and non-Shakespearian character. Frankly, he's simply not a present enough character to base too many assumptions off of.
Lower-rated comedy:
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days received a 42% rating: If we analyze the jesters in this movie, there are... 3. Arguably. There's one other friend of Andie Anderson's who's a girl that doesn't say anything memorable in the entire story. Actually, neither of the boys who are friends with Ben Barry say anything remarkably insightful either. Instead they banter back and forth with Ben about his history with love and how much they want him to win this bet that he can make any woman fall in love with him. They are two-dimensional clowns. Andie's friend, Michelle Reuben, who is the inspiration for the article titled "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" is the one source of any kind of complex humor. She poses as a couples' counselor and allows for some comedic moments. Yet, she possesses no advice for her friend that is helpful. She only proves to be a doting, soft-headed girl who falls too fast and too easily for simplistic men. Thus, no jesters in this movie serve any role outside of a barely believable clown.
Thus, we can theorize that Shakespeare has truly set a standard for comedy when it comes to comedic characters. Society appreciates complexity, and we have continued since Shakespeare's day to celebrate the unfairly downtrodden.
Well done, Bill. Yet another thing you've done right.
