| 1 | [[quoteright:200:[[{{Webcomic/Narbonic}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/narbonic_ruleoffunny_0.png]]]] |
| 2 | |
| 3 | ->'''Eddie:''' You mean to tell me that you could have taken your hand out of that cuff at any time?!\ |
| 4 | '''Roger:''' No, not at ''any'' time. Only when it was ''funny''. |
| 5 | -->-- ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'' |
| 6 | |
| 7 | |
| 8 | ''The limit of the WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief for a given element is directly proportional to its funniness.'' |
| 9 | |
| 10 | Any violation of [[{{Canon}} continuity]], [[FridgeLogic logic]], [[ArtMajorPhysics physics]], or [[ViolationOfCommonSense common sense]] is permissible if the result gets enough of a laugh. |
| 11 | |
| 12 | This is the comedy equivalent of the RuleOfCool, and is accordingly weighted more in comedy shows. Especially easy to invoke in humor-based American animation and {{webcomics}}, where people expect the lack of realism in the art to translate to other areas. |
| 13 | |
| 14 | Rule of Funny is not a superpower. One of the characteristics of the rule of funny is that it can give some abilities to a character to the sole purpose of a gag, which means the character just CAN'T do that when it's not funny. For instance, [[{{WesternAnimation/WileECoyoteAndTheRoadrunner}} Wile E. Coyote]] frequently [[GravityIsAHarshMistress walks on thin air because he hasn't noticed that he's at the edge of a cliff, and he falls when he notices it]]. It is Rule of Funny: Wile E. can't walk on thin air as a previewed part of a scheme. |
| 15 | |
| 16 | Compare RuleOfFun. |
| 17 | |
| 18 | ---- |
| 19 | |
| 20 | !!Tropes existing purely due to the Rule of Funny: |
| 21 | [[index]] |
| 22 | |
| 23 | * AbsurdPhobia: Because nothing's quite as hilarious as someone being afraid of something innocuous and harmless. |
| 24 | * AbsurdlyIneffectiveBarricade |
| 25 | * AccidentalDeclarationOfLove |
| 26 | * AmusingInjuries (and all subtropes thereof) |
| 27 | ** AnvilOnHead |
| 28 | ** BloodlessCarnage |
| 29 | ** CraniumChase |
| 30 | ** HeadTurnedBackwards |
| 31 | ** IllogicalSafe |
| 32 | ** ImOkay |
| 33 | ** IronButtMonkey |
| 34 | ** NonFatalExplosions |
| 35 | * AnachronismStew: Historical accuracy can easily be dismissed if the bit involving modern technology is funny. |
| 36 | * AngryGuardDog |
| 37 | ** IncompetentGuardAnimal |
| 38 | * ArsonMurderAndJaywalking |
| 39 | * AssShove |
| 40 | * AwesomenessIsVolatile |
| 41 | * BadlyBatteredBabysitter |
| 42 | * BreakingTheFourthWall |
| 43 | ** AsideGlance |
| 44 | ** MediumAwareness |
| 45 | ** NoFourthWall |
| 46 | * BrokenEcho |
| 47 | * BubblegumPopping |
| 48 | * {{Camp}} |
| 49 | * CastFullOfCrazy |
| 50 | * TheCatCameBack |
| 51 | * TheChewToy |
| 52 | * CityOfEverywhere |
| 53 | * ComedicSociopathy |
| 54 | * ComicalOverreacting |
| 55 | * ContainerCling |
| 56 | * CookingTheLiveMeal |
| 57 | * CrackFic |
| 58 | * CrossesTheLineTwice: Disturbing, unsettling and depressing things are so over-the-top and audacious that they instantly become hilarious. |
| 59 | * CueTheFallingObject |
| 60 | * CutawayGag |
| 61 | * DenserAndWackier |
| 62 | * DiggingToChina |
| 63 | * DrippingDisturbance |
| 64 | * {{Duck}} |
| 65 | * EmbarrassingRingtone |
| 66 | * EverythingIsAnInstrument |
| 67 | * FMinusMinus |
| 68 | * ForciblyFormedPhysique |
| 69 | * GagSeries |
| 70 | * GiganticGulp |
| 71 | * GravityIsAHarshMistress |
| 72 | * {{Hammerspace}} |
| 73 | ** ImpossiblyCompactFolding |
| 74 | * {{Hellistics}}: Unrelated events turn out to be connected with each other just to screw over the character(s). |
| 75 | * HowIsThatEvenPossible |
| 76 | * HurtFootHop |
| 77 | * HyperspaceMallet |
| 78 | * ImpossiblePickleJar |
| 79 | * InconvenientItch |
| 80 | * InnerMonologueConversation |
| 81 | * InstantGravestone |
| 82 | * ItRunsOnNonsensoleum |
| 83 | * JustJokingJustification |
| 84 | * MadeOfExplodium |
| 85 | * MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext |
| 86 | * MarilynManeuver |
| 87 | * MediumShiftGag |
| 88 | * MundaneWish |
| 89 | * NegativeContinuity |
| 90 | * NoseShove |
| 91 | * NotActuallyTheUltimateQuestion |
| 92 | * NothingIsFunnier: The humor is enhanced by not explaining everything and leaving certain details to the audience's imagination. |
| 93 | * NunsAreFunny |
| 94 | * ObligatoryJoke |
| 95 | * OrganAutonomy |
| 96 | * OverlyLongName |
| 97 | * OverlyLongTongue |
| 98 | * PaintedTunnelRealTrain |
| 99 | * PatheticDroopingWeapon |
| 100 | * PeriodPieceModernLanguage |
| 101 | * PianoKeyWave |
| 102 | * PinballGag |
| 103 | * QuirkyWork |
| 104 | * RandomEventsPlot |
| 105 | * RapidFireComedy |
| 106 | * ReadingAheadInTheScript |
| 107 | * ReadingsBlewUpTheScale |
| 108 | * ReverseCerebusSyndrome |
| 109 | * SillinessSwitch |
| 110 | * SillyAnimalSound |
| 111 | * SquishTheCheeks |
| 112 | * SuperDeformed |
| 113 | * SurrealHumor |
| 114 | * ThisIsYourPremiseOnDrugs |
| 115 | * ToonPhysics |
| 116 | * UndignifiedDeath |
| 117 | * UnplannedCrossdressing |
| 118 | * VacuumMouth |
| 119 | * WackySoundEffect |
| 120 | * WackyWaterbed |
| 121 | * WaterIsAir |
| 122 | * WaterGeyserVolley |
| 123 | * WhoEvenNeedsABrain |
| 124 | * WorldGoneMad |
| 125 | * WorldOfChaos |
| 126 | * WorldOfHam |
| 127 | [[/index]] |
| 128 | ---- |
| 129 | !!Examples |
| 130 | |
| 131 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 132 | |
| 133 | [[folder:Anime & Manga]] |
| 134 | * A [[{{Pun}} running]] sight gag in ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'' is Sakaki, after winning a race, running with the ribbon held up by her (for a Japanese teenager) extremely large breasts. Of course, this means that the ribbon was chest-level on the tallest girl, putting it high enough that some of the contestants would have run right ''under'' it... but it's still funny. |
| 135 | ** Sakaki generally bends down a little and kind of "scoops" the ribbon when she runs through. |
| 136 | ** ''Manga/LuckyStar'' deliberately invoked this trope as well, as noted by GenreSavvy Konata. |
| 137 | %%* ''Manga/ExcelSaga'', in a nutshell. |
| 138 | * ''Manga/OnePiece'' uses this for a number of things (some of which later get a CerebusRetcon), but one to note is Franky building a nice-looking wooden bridge out of scraps and rubble in less than a minute. It would be a DeusExMachina if Franky's insistence on the level of detail and craftsmanship didn't make it hilarious. |
| 139 | ** For those who haven't seen the above scene, the bridge has carved, ornate handrails and was varnished. |
| 140 | ** Luffy ''eating a cage'' he was trapped in certainly qualifies, especially because he's captured again before he achieves anything. The whole scene serves no purpose but Rule of Funny. |
| 141 | ** ''One Piece'' has some pretty outlandish character designs, but some manage to go the extra mile (like Wanze and Jango's telescopic and heart-shaped eyes) just for the sake of a gag. |
| 142 | ** Enforced by Creator/EiichiroOda when Luffy unlocks Gear 5: As he felt the series had gotten uncomfortably close to hitting CerebusSyndrome, with both the plot and Luffy's power-ups getting more and more serious as the series went on, he did the ultimate swerve by having Luffy's final power-up be to go from RubberMan to [[ToonPhysics Rubberhose Man]], drawing inspiration from cartoons like ''Franchise/TomAndJerry'' to make the most ridiculous yet most powerful power-up ever seen in the series. |
| 143 | * This is the '''only''' thing that keeps the shower scene with [[spoiler:Baron Ashura]] in episode 5 of ''Anime/{{Mazinkaiser}}'' from being NightmareFuel. |
| 144 | %%* In general, this trope applies to how the titular character beats enemies in ''Manga/BoboboboBobobo''. |
| 145 | %%* Pretty much everything in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' that isn't covered by RuleOfCool probably falls under this. |
| 146 | %%** Still both cool and funny parts are usually completely logical. When they're not, it's heavily [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]]. |
| 147 | * ''Anime/CodeGeass'' has a lot of jokes and slapstick during its comedic episodes which would already be enough to qualify, but it is also a curious case where the staff has explicitly acknowledged that sometimes they made the characters do something crazy, absurd or plainly hilarious for no good reason other than the Rule of Funny, regardless of the context [[StealthParody appearing to be more serious on the surface]]. |
| 148 | * ''Manga/MyBrideIsAMermaid''. The ''only'' thing that the show ever plays seriously is the relationship between San and Nagasumi, and even then, tongue is lodged firmly in cheek. |
| 149 | * ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' plays have equal shares of this and RuleOfCool as the laws of the universe, instead of the regular, boring laws of physics. |
| 150 | %%* ''Manga/GoodLuckGirl'' practically runs on it- particularly everything [[{{Troll}} Momiji]] does. |
| 151 | %%* ''Manga/SgtFrog'': ...narrow it down to ''one'' example? Um. |
| 152 | * In ''Manga/DoctorSlump'' how strong Arale is at a given time seems to depend only on what would be the funniest (or more rarely [[RuleOfDrama the more dramatic]]). Sometimes she is strong enough to defeat [[ShowyInvincibleHero anything]] [[CurbStompBattle in one hit]], destroy the moon by throwing a little rock at it, or travel around the world in a matter of seconds. But other times she takes a few chapters running a race through the village (because obviously [[StoryBreakerPower there would be no race otherwise]]), or have trouble against an opponent that she should be able to destroy easily. |
| 153 | * ''Manga/DragonBall'' will occasionally chuck all sense of [[PowerLevels power scaling]] out the window for the sake of {{Slapstick}} - notable examples include [[{{Muggles}} Mr. Satan]] surviving getting slapped head-first into a mountain by Cell, Krillin throwing a rock at Super Saiyan Goku and causing him serious pain, [[JokeCharacter Monaka]] tanking a full-force punch from Goku, and Goku accidentally throwing Chi-Chi through a wall, tree, and having her hit her head against a rock only to be totally fine afterward. |
| 154 | * In one scene in ''Manga/HoshinEngi'', Taikobo and Supushan are struck by a lightning bolt, Taikobo's hair ends up in a carbonized FunnyAfro, Supushan's ends up with perfectly styled RegalRinglets, for no reason. |
| 155 | * ''Manga/MonthlyGirlsNozakiKun'' is a GagSeries where the primary source of comedy comes from the hilarious miscommunication and misunderstandings between characters who almost always ''immediately'' jumps to the weirdest conclusions that no reasonable people would even consider when they are presented with a unusual situation. |
| 156 | * ''Literature/FullMetalPanic'' has a similar case to ''Dragon Ball'', where the series is a combination of deadly serious HumongousMecha action and zany RomCom with the realism level zig-zagging as the plot demands. Comedy episodes use AmusingInjuries even for things like explosives, but serious episodes feature realistic life-or-death battles between soldiers and terrorists. For example, the protagonist Sosuke [[ItMakesSenseInContext gets hit in the head by second base]] in a gag episode and is just knocked out for a few minutes, but in a more serious battle later on in the story [[spoiler:he gets shot in the gut, losing a portion of his liver and almost bleeding to death]]. |
| 157 | * While many rules are changed in ''Anime/YuGiOh'' for dramatic or story/advantage purposes, sometimes, they're there for comedic purposes. A notable example is in ''Anime/YuGiOhTheMoviePyramidOfLight'' when a man attacks Joey with Fairy Lily Injection on the first turn. Normally, [[NewRulesAsThePlotDemands attacking on the first turn is illegal]], but then we wouldn't get to see Fairy Lily stabbing Joey in the butt. |
| 158 | [[/folder]] |
| 159 | |
| 160 | [[folder:Art]] |
| 161 | * ''Art/LaserKiwiFlag'': Why would anyone put a laser-shooting Kiwi on New Zealand's flag? Because it's so nonsensical on something that ought to be SeriousBusiness that ends up being funny. |
| 162 | [[/folder]] |
| 163 | |
| 164 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 165 | * Larry Elmore used this in his classic ''ComicStrip/SnarfQuest, citing that his manner of plotting the episodes was to figure out the ending goal of the characters then throw out the plan and write/draw the stupidest'' possible way they could get there. |
| 166 | * Creator/DonRosa uses this trope from time to time as a justification for breaking realism in his otherwise painfully serious comics. He even mentions it (though not by name) in one of the comment pages for ''Comicbook/TheLifeAndTimesOfScroogeMcDuck'', when he had retroactively added [[http://duckman.pettho.com/drinfo/eisner.jpg the Eisner comic award]] he won for the series in its last chapter, hanging on Scrooge's wall. WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck [[LampshadeHanging even remarks]] that it has to be fake, since they're living in the 50s and the award reads "1995" with big letters. Rosa compares his relationship with the rule to the below-mentioned joke in Roger Rabbit. |
| 167 | * ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueInternational'' is well-known for humorously {{Flanderiz|ation}}ing a number of characters or having them [[TookALevelInDumbass Take A Level In Dumbass]] for the sake of comedy. This led to the period in [[ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica League]] history being considered an AudienceAlienatingEra and OldShame in-universe (in real life the series is beloved by fans), largely because the team had become a group of ineffectual jokesters. |
| 168 | * [[Characters/TheUnbeatableSquirrelGirl Squirrel Girl]] breathes this trope. How else can you explain how a girl with a tail who has the power to [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway talk to squirrels]], can defeat super villains like [[Characters/MarvelComicsThanos Thanos]] (MagnificentBastard), [[Characters/MarvelComicsDoctorDoom Doctor Doom]] (CrazyPrepared Personified) and [[Characters/MarvelComicsDeadpool Deadpool]] (Deadpool)? |
| 169 | * Me, the [[SelfDemonstrating/{{Deadpool}} Merc with the Mouth]], would have to say that I'm, myself, pretty much the incarnation of this trope. I mean, I never stop talking even when I'm getting beaten to a pulp, and most of the stuff I say goes straight into the SugarWiki/FunnyMoments section... Also, mention that [[SymbolSwearing percent sign, skull, colon, ampersand, swirly thingy, dollar sign, semicolon]] Squirrel Girl again, and I'll make rabbit leg roti, wrapped in dragonnade with cherry and carrot puree out of you! Either that or curry with rice. |
| 170 | * [[Characters/BatmanTheJoker The Joker]], of all people, points this out in ''ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheCapedCrusader''. |
| 171 | --> "Kid. I'm the Joker. I don't just randomly kill people. I kill people when it's funny. What would conceivably be funny about killing you?" |
| 172 | * ''[[ComicBook/{{Nextwave}} Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E.]]'' runs on this. It starts with the team fighting a giant green dragon in underpants and proceeds to get unashamedly weirder without so much as stopping for breath -- except to huff more laughing gas. To wit, Dirk Anger, director of H.A.T.E., (a ComicBook/NickFury {{expy}}) spends the entire series a) trying to kill Nextwave by, say, throwing Drop Bears at them from his flying submarine base, and b) concocting more elaborate suicide attempts due to the [[VillainousBreakdown breakdown]] the Nextwave squad are giving him. |
| 173 | * This is the only reason for anything that happens in ''ComicBook/TheAwesomeSlapstick'', including the {{Monster Clown}}s from Dimension X, the five-year-old toddler and his [[MechanicalMonster giant robotic teddy bear]], and the highly explosive Neutron Bum. |
| 174 | [[/folder]] |
| 175 | |
| 176 | [[folder:Comic Strips]] |
| 177 | * In one ''Brother Juniper'' strip Juniper is carrying a ''pipe organ'' in his cupped hands while a fellow monk on the floor above him yells "Put it here!" |
| 178 | * ''ComicStrip/TheFarSide'' lived and breathed off this trope. For instance, the strip frequently depicted cavemen and dinosaurs living together, which creator Gary Larson acknowledged as being horribly inaccurate but necessary for the sake of making the jokes work. [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools Nonetheless, the strip is popular with scientists]], and paleontologists even named the tail spikes of a ''Stegosaurus'' "thagomizers" in reference to a ''Far Side'' cartoon featuring cavemen and dinosaurs together. |
| 179 | [[/folder]] |
| 180 | |
| 181 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 182 | * AbridgedSeries, generally speaking, live and breathe this trope. ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'', the first of this particular genre, is a defining example; if there is something that can be made funny, it ''will'' happen regardless of how completely nonsensical or out-of-character it may be. |
| 183 | * ''Fanfic/EquestriaGirlsFriendshipSouls'': Pinkie's evolved Fullbring weaponizes this. Whenever she strikes something with the hammer, it reacts in a hilarious way, like forming a springboard under someone's feet or absorbing an energy blast with a loud belching sound. It pretty much [[RealityWarper lets her warp reality on a limited scale as long as the result can be considered a gag...such as forcing the fight between her and Cheese Sandwich to literally function by 2D fighting game mechanics.]] Cheese notes that it's only half of her power and sure enough with time she begins combining [[RuleOfFunny Funny]] with [[RuleOfScary Horror]]... |
| 184 | * ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'' fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11886910/1/Gankona-Unnachgiebig-Unità Gankona, Unnachgiebig, Unità]]'': {{Hammerspace}} was PlayedForLaughs and [[{{Parody}} Parodied]] several times. From clothes to books to Death Notes to flowers, the characters' backs can store them all. |
| 185 | |
| 186 | -->"It's alright Italia-kun. I always bring spare cosplays with me." He reached into some sort of secret compartment behind his back, pulling out an identical outfit to the one the brunet was currently wearing. Seriously, how do anime characters have such an ability? |
| 187 | |
| 188 | --> Japan disappeared into a bathroom for a short amount of time before reappearing, now clad in a sharp black suit and tie with a white dress shirt and black pants, taking hexagonal glasses from his pocket—or wherever anime characters store all their stuff—before putting them on. |
| 189 | |
| 190 | -->"Humph." The larger scoffed back. He then reached into the magical space all anime characters have, whipping out a book conveniently titled 'How to Catch a Runaway Italian'. |
| 191 | |
| 192 | -->Both reached into the magical space all anime characters have, extracting black notebooks—Japan's having unidentifiable symbols on its cover as Italy's had 'Death Note' clearly printed on it in gothic letters—before taking out pens and colored pencils as well, opening the pages before scrawling in them.\ |
| 193 | -->Giggling, the auburn reached into the magical space all anime characters have, an exquisite bouquet of utmost grandeur popping out from behind his back. "Tada!" |
| 194 | * ''Fanfic/OversaturatedWorld'': ''Fanfic/{{Oversaturation}}'': Pinkie Pie's unique magic only works when it's funny, literally: |
| 195 | --> Pinkie shook her head as she put down her toy sword. "Yeah, I'm not gonna be able to help."\ |
| 196 | "Why not? This is important!"\ |
| 197 | "That's ''why'' I'm not going to be able to help. My tricks only work when it's funny." Pinkie spread her arms. "We're in a literal laboratory setting trying to figure it out to stave off the end of the world! |
| 198 | * The ''WebAnimation/TouhouM1GrandPrix'' is a BokeAndTsukkomiRoutine competition staring characters from an ElegantGothicLolita WorldOfBadass ShootEmUp. It runs on Rule of Funny. There's even an instance of with a [[SoreLoser finalist crying all-alone]], running into a HopeSpot / JumpScare that's {{played for laughs}}. |
| 199 | * In ''Fanfic/TheStoryToEndAllStories'', the Doctor only mentions there's food in the TARDIS after numerous attempts to find food elsewhere are thwarted. |
| 200 | [[/folder]] |
| 201 | |
| 202 | [[folder:Films -- Animation]] |
| 203 | * The Disney animation ''WesternAnimation/TheEmperorsNewGroove'' repeatedly emphasizes its own ludicrous plot holes with lines such as "Now, what are the odds that trap door would lead me out here?" |
| 204 | -->'''Kuzco:''' No... It can't be! How did you get here before us?\ |
| 205 | '''Yzma:''' Ah-- uh, how ''did'' we, Kronk?\ |
| 206 | '''Kronk:''' Well, you got me. ''[pulls out a map, showing the two parties' paths]'' By all accounts, it doesn't make sense. |
| 207 | * In ''WesternAnimation/AtlantisTheLostEmpire'' a chalk map that rubs off on Milo's shirt is not reversed, as the gag of Milo having to stand in that position would have been voided. The directors were amused that test audiences complained more about that detail and its plausibility than in the following scene where a photograph whirs into life in a 1920's movie style. |
| 208 | ** Granted, the photo coming to life isn't diagetic and is obviously a stylistic representation of his memory (motion pictures did exist in 1912, when the movie takes place). |
| 209 | %%* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Madagascar}}'' movies follow [=RoF=] to an increasing degree with every movie. |
| 210 | * ''WesternAnimation/IceAge'' has characters that might act goofy or out of character if the writers think the joke is funny. For example, Diego is a mostly serious character, yet will start acting silly or goofy if the joke depends on it (like him trying to hide that Sid's family abandoned him again by saying they were destroyed by an asteroid). |
| 211 | * In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', when Mei pulls her friends into her room to shush them, their spines seem to bend 180 degrees backwards in order to fit through the window. |
| 212 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Up}}'': Carl and Muntz's ages are rarely taken into account except when it would somehow be humorous. |
| 213 | [[/folder]] |
| 214 | |
| 215 | [[folder:Films -- Live-Action]] |
| 216 | * ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'': |
| 217 | ** Roger declares this to be an actual law of cartoon physics. This being the most frequently referenced instance of the rule, it's interesting to note that Roger's phrasing makes it hard to tell whether or not he's just pulling Eddie's chain, but his apologetic tone suggests that he's being sincere about slipping the cuffs and not any happier about it than Eddie is. |
| 218 | --->'''Eddie:''' You mean you could have taken your hand out of that cuff at any time?!\ |
| 219 | '''Roger:''' No, not at ''any'' time. Only when it was ''funny''. |
| 220 | ** A consequence of this Rule: Judge Doom plus Rule Of Funny equals FridgeHorror and NightmareFuel. |
| 221 | --->"ShaveAndAHaircut..." |
| 222 | ** Another consequence of this Rule can be NauseaFuel. This instance is referenced when Roger is [[FunWithFlushing flushed down a toilet]] while trying to sneak into the [[AcmeProducts Acme factory]]. In this instance instead of being flushed down a clean prop toilet on a cartoon set (like he is used to) Roger is forced to endure the nastiness of a DisgustingPublicToilet as if it were the same. |
| 223 | * In ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', the ''[[CoolStarship Millennium Falcon]]'' malfunctions but Han Solo restarts the engines by [[PercussiveMaintenance punching the instrument panel]]. Which happens [[RuleOfThree three times]]. (Two for Han, and once for Lando.) |
| 224 | * Every Creator/MontyPython movie, especially ''[[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail Holy Grail]]''. The opening titles even contain faux Swedish subtitles that ramble off on tangents, leading the people in charge of the titles to be fired, mid title sequence. |
| 225 | %%* Any given Creator/JackieChan fight sequence. |
| 226 | %%* This is the entire point of ''Film/JesusChristVampireHunter''. |
| 227 | * The scene in ''Film/Transformers2007'' where the Autobots hide in Sam's backyard doesn't make that much sense (why wouldn't Sam's parents hear them speaking?), but it's so damn funny it barely matters. |
| 228 | * Certain comedy films can't go one minute without violating all sanity for a joke. Consider ''Film/TopSecret'', featuring a very young Creator/ValKilmer as a rock & roll star protagonist in a CommieLand spy plot: this movie includes a motel called Gey Shluffen, a high speed action chase to change a radio station, and an underwater BarBrawl. Or watch ''Film/{{Airplane}}'' for the sheer number of visual pun gags. |
| 229 | ** Creator/WoodyAllen's early films were very much of this order. Consider ''Film/TakeTheMoneyAndRun'' where Woody is imprisoned and punished by being locked in confinement with an insurance salesman, and briefly becomes an Orthodox rabbi as a side effect of medical experimentation. Or ''Film/LoveAndDeath'' where a battle scene is intercut with scenes of Woody as a cheerleader. |
| 230 | %%* ''Film/{{Idiocracy}}''. BellisariosMaxim is written 'LARGE''' across every element. |
| 231 | * Pavi Largo's accent in ''Film/RepoTheGeneticOpera''. He's the only one of his siblings with an Italian accent. It appears only to be there to make him hilarious. (It works.) [[note]] The writers have subsequently stated that Pavi developed his accent to cover up a childhood speech impediment. But seeing as the film itself offers no such explanation, it probably still counts as Rule of Funny[[/note]] |
| 232 | ** "All of-a eet? OHHHH NOOOOOO!" |
| 233 | * Every Creator/MarxBrothers film revolves around this, to a varying degree. Many of their best routines have absolutely nothing to do with the plot. |
| 234 | ** ''Film/DuckSoup'' really takes the cake in that regard: the plot makes absolutely no sense if you think about it for more than a minute, but you'll probably be laughing too hard to care. How is one rich heiress powerful enough to decide the leader of an entire country by herself? How does a fast-talking huckster with no political experience get appointed the leader of a country? Why is said country identical to 1930s America? How did a frizzy-haired mute and a guy with an incomprehensible Italian accent get jobs as spies? [[MST3KMantra Just go with it.]] |
| 235 | ** Ditto Film/TheThreeStooges. |
| 236 | * The final scene of ''Film/CasinoRoyale1967'' is so completely nonsensical that it's impossible to describe. Allegedly, the scene is the heroes trying to get out of the casino before it explodes. So why the cowboys, Indians, flying roulette table, bubbles, kinescope police dispatchment, gun-turret banister, etc.? It's funny... at least if you're high enough to write a scene like that. |
| 237 | * The climactic battle of ''Film/BlazingSaddles'', which features the characters [[NoFourthWall leaving their soundstage]] and breaking up a dance number on another set, getting into a pie fight in the studio commissary, then (eventually) getting to the end of the movie by sneaking into a theater playing ''Blazing Saddles'' and watching it with us. |
| 238 | %%* ''Creator/SeltzerAndFriedberg'' aim for this trope... with unfortunate results. |
| 239 | * James Moriarty, formerly a Professor of Mathematics, being [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ym-Das0s84 unable to perform long division, with decimals]] in ''Film/TheAdventureOfSherlockHolmesSmarterBrother''. |
| 240 | * ''Film/PocketNinjas'' attempts to use the Rule a lot but fails. It's full of things that can only be there because they're supposed to be funny but turn out mind-bogglingly, embarrassingly stupid, even for a children's movie. Examples: The FinalBattle. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7XdeF9Zt0g&feature=related In a videogame.]] The BigGood fighting the [[GreaterScopeVillain Bigger Bad]]. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j1wucWpV8c With balloons and horrible carnival music.]] And pat-a-cake and... seriously, what the hell are they doing?? |
| 241 | * Combined with StylisticSuck for the Swedish action-comedy ''Kopps''. A policeman is given ridiculous superpowers, that begin with him arriving at the scene of a robbery seconds after the alarm is activated, flipping his car in the air and landing perfectly on all four wheels, and then...[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wsc5_Ziy710 all of this happens]]. |
| 242 | * In the final scene of ''Film/AFishCalledWanda'', Otto is seen hanging on to the window of an airplane taking off, [[spoiler:having apparently survived being run over by a steamroller and smushed into wet cement]]. On the DVD, Creator/JohnCleese argues that this joke wouldn't have worked at any point in the film other than the very end. |
| 243 | * Most of the {{amusing injuries}} Tony gets when testing the suit in ''Film/IronMan1''. |
| 244 | * Tranquilizers take several minutes to take effect; however, in ''Film/{{Thor}}'' it happens almost immediately, causing one of the funniest parts in the film. In the hospital when Thor is fighting the doctors, this happens: (gets pinned against the wall) "You are no match for the mighty--" (gets a tranquilizer shot in his ass-cheek). |
| 245 | * This is the main reason why anything happens in ''Film/HaroldAndKumarGoToWhiteCastle'' and its sequels. The number of {{Contrived Coincidence}}s and [[RandomEventsPlot random events]] the protagonists go through would be absurdly improbable in RealLife, but the films' inability to take anything seriously allows the audience to accept the absurdity. |
| 246 | * The ImaginaryFriend version of [[AdolfHitlarious Hitler]] as seen in ''Film/JojoRabbit '' runs on this trope. He’s goofy, always offers Jojo cigarettes and forgets that he’s is ten and can’t smoke, helps him with girls, and runs around the woods with him like a kid. Justified in that he’s not literally Hitler, he’s what a kid who’s had his brain pumped full of Nazi propaganda thinks Hitler is. Director Creator/TaikaWaititi said that with the tone of the film, a more serious Hitler would be out of place and thinks that Hitler was such an “evil fucking cunt” that he doesn’t deserve the dignity of getting a serious portrayal. That being said, he does become more menacing as the film progresses and Jojo grows more disillusioned with him. Especially after he finds out that real Hitler was a coward who killed himself rather than face trial for what he’d done. |
| 247 | * In ''Film/ThorRagnarok'', it isn't likely that Loki would be on Sakaar for weeks close to The Grandmaster without having any clue as to who the famous gladiatorial champion is, especially with all of his fans and merchandise with his likeness. It also isn't likely that Thor's reaction to the champion's identity would have been nearly as humorous if he had learned it any earlier than he did. |
| 248 | [[/folder]] |
| 249 | |
| 250 | [[folder:Game Shows]] |
| 251 | * This drives a lot of the "rules" of ''Series/{{Taskmaster}}''. The tasks are always meant to evoke the funniest performances from the contestants, and often Greg will bend or outright break his own rules for a contestant with a funny enough performance or statement during the on-stage segment. Unless it would be funnier to enforce the rules, of course. A notable example is when constestants in the Series 12 finale were tasked with making noises for two full seconds, where Greg had to guess who was who: Alan just yelling "WOW" at the absolute top of his lungs, and Guz purring in an almost sensual way, as their "monster noises" was so funny it sent Greg, Alex, the other four comedians, and the audience into absolute hysterics. It's so funny Greg and Alex either didn't notice, or deliberately let it slide, that neither of them didn't meet the "make the sound for 2 full seconds" criteria. |
| 252 | [[/folder]] |
| 253 | |
| 254 | [[folder:Jokes]] |
| 255 | * RussianHumour has a bunch of invocations of this. One of the more significant, however, is the portrayal of UsefulNotes/JosefStalin in line with Russian (and, to be frank, pan-Soviet) stereotypes of Georgians, down to a thick Georgian accent when speaking Russian and a love of red wine and brandy in addition to vodka. It helps that Stalin really did have a noticeable Georgian accent in Russian and really did love Georgian wine and brandy (though he loved vodka more, which is probably what killed him). |
| 256 | [[/folder]] |
| 257 | |
| 258 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 259 | * In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' universe, this is an actual rule, akin to a law of physics. Creator/TerryPratchett, author of the series, has cited this rule in interviews. The ''TabletopGame/DiscworldRoleplayingGame'' elaborates that it is a corollary of the TheoryOfNarrativeCausality, known as the Rule of Universal Humour. That term appears once in the novels themselves, mentioned as the reason someone still had his hat on after being turned into a pumpkin. |
| 260 | * Creator/TomHolt and Creator/RobertRankin have based their entire careers on this. With Holt, you know the book you're reading is based on the same plot as the ''last'' five books of his you read -- and you don't care; with Rankin... well... the closest description anyone's ever found to his books is ''Radio/TheGoonShow'' [[ThisIsYourPremiseOnDrugs on crack]], and this is pretty much the ''only'' rule it abides by. |
| 261 | * Craig Shaw Gardner's Cineverse Cycle, as a parody of B movies in general, pretty much lives and breathes this trope, whether it's the subtitles that appear underneath the inhabitants of the "foreign film" universe whenever they speak, or the mad scientist who turns into a Gargamel {{Expy}} whenever he's around this bunch of fluffy bunnies in the "cartoon" universe, or the slime monster in the "horror" universe which turns out to be [[spoiler: the formerly-missing chimp companion of the Tarzan {{Expy}} in the "adventure" universe, clad in a monster suit]]. |
| 262 | * The steampower on which the works of Creator/PGWodehouse run. [[ContrivedCoincidence Bizarre coincidences]] are commonplace, the SmartBall and the IdiotBall get juggled around by just about everyone, and [[StrictlyFormula the same things happen ten million times]]. [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools By general consensus, he is the funniest writer in the English language]]. |
| 263 | * Deconstructed in the ''Literature/DoctorWhoNewAdventures'' novel ''Sky Pirates'', which is set in a PocketDimension based on jokes, but makes it clear that it's not funny if it actually happens to you. |
| 264 | * Magic in the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' universe is half this, half whatever the plot needs. Also [=McGonagall=]’s name came from an infamously terrible Scottish poet [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_McGonagall William McGonagall]]. Creator/JKRowling thought it was funny for such a talented witch to be related to such a talentless person. |
| 265 | * As Beatrice from ''Literature/TheDivineComedy'' explains, there were many preachers and homilists in around the 1300's who worried more about making the laity laugh at the the expense of the truth of the scriptures. Suspending holy reality like this allows the greedy and devilish preachers of the world to gain popularity through their comedy while being as wicked without scriptural criticism. |
| 266 | [[/folder]] |
| 267 | |
| 268 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 269 | * Any "plot" elements in ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000''. See the [[MST3KMantra mantra]]. For example, Season 7 ended with Dr. Forrester being reborn and then killed by Pearl, who then freezes herself. A later episode shows her and the cast go back to the present, so the second Dr. Forrester would still be around, if it had to make sense. |
| 270 | ** While Tom Servo's arms are stated in-universe to be non-functional, he will nonetheless hold on to anything he needs so long as it leads to a funny gag. |
| 271 | * On the show ''Series/{{Merlin|2008}}'' during the episode "[[Recap/MerlinS04E06AServantOfTwoMasters A Servant of Two Masters]]", Merlin continuously (and humorously) fails to kill Arthur by using weapons and chemicals. It is because of this trope the Merlin doesn't use magic to try and kill Arthur. |
| 272 | * Penny's intelligence and Sheldon's social skills in ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'' both tend to vary wildly based on this trope. |
| 273 | * The title character of ''Series/{{Angel}}'' could go from dead serious to goofball surprisingly fast. In fact, the entire point of "[[Recap/AngelS05E14SmileTime Smile Time]]" seems to be this trope. There is a mysterious bad guy, it could do anything. Why would it turn Angel into a {{puppet|permutation}}? Because it's hilarious, that's why. |
| 274 | * Pretty much what ''Series/RedDwarf'' is made of. The premise, every episode, almost every scene, and a whole lot of the individual lines are all just completely ridiculous (the characters giving out one-liners that are completely inappropriate to the situation is practically a staple of the show), that it's probably used about half of the sub-pages listed above at one point or another. And needless to say, all of this is forgiven by the fans, as it's probably one of the funniest (and [[SugarWiki/NeedsMoreLove most underappreciated]]) TV shows ever made, because as long as it's funny, it works. |
| 275 | ** One of the show's creator's strategies apparently seems to be finding RefugeInAudacity. The sheer amount the show uses is perfectly exemplified in a condensed four minutes in the famous return of Ace Rimmer, where he escapes from ropes by dislocating both of his shoulders (yet retains full use of his arms for the remainder of the scene), shrugs off bullets with mild annoyance at his clothes being ruined, and [[AppliedPhlebotinum flies a motorcycle.]] And then some, ending with a VariableTerminalVelocity BrickJoke. Really, it's easier if you just [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXYfnWRp1Q0the watch it.]] What a guy! (The fact that he's [[spoiler: actually a solid hologram]] either explains it or makes all ten times better/worse.) |
| 276 | ** They briefly {{Flanderiz|ation}}ed Holly's [[TheDitz senility]] for a joke multiple times, with the extreme being "[[Recap/{{Red Dwarf Season IV White Hole}} White Hole]]" (in which (s)he was counting by banging her head on the screen). However, (s)he is shown to be much more lucid (if not necessarily brilliant) in other episodes, notably in "[[Recap/RedDwarfSeasonIIQueeg Queeg]]" with a well-planned hoax ''based'' on the idiot-perception and in "[[Recap/{{Red Dwarf Back To Earth}} Back to Earth]]" when (s)he saves the entire crew. Also, "White Hole" itself establishes that the ship's power generation requires her input, making you wonder why something hasn't exploded yet. |
| 277 | ** One of the perceived flaws of the [[SeasonalRot often-disliked Series VIII]] is that whole scenes seem to have been tacked on mainly for laughs. The most glaring are the tap dancing shuttle craft scene and the Tyrannosaurus Rex, ([[ArtisticLicensePaleontology of course]]) eating a giant curry. Pretty base stuff by the series previous standards and not helped by some [[SpecialEffectFailure not-very-convincing CGI]]. |
| 278 | *** There's a glorious piece in the script book, where Naylor describes, step by painstaking step, just how complex the dancing Blue Midget scene was to do, then going on the messageboards and learning "the fans hate it, they think it's filler". |
| 279 | * Many of the "challenges" in ''Series/TopGear''. Why turn a truck into an amphibious vehicle? Why launch a car on a rocket only to see it hit the ground and then explode? Why make James May try to drive fast? (Or why let him get lost--actually lost--on a ''race track''? Because it's funny, durn it!) |
| 280 | * On ''The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show'', George made it clear in his occasional [[NoFourthWall asides to the audience]] that he would go along with anything as long as it was getting laughs. |
| 281 | * Pretty much one of the main reasons Adam as well as the Chuckleheads (Kari, Grant, and Tori) are around in ''Series/MythBusters'' is because they all fulfill the Rule of Funny. Jamie and Adam admit they really aren't that fond of each other in real life - if it weren't for the Rule of Funny, you can bet your bottom it'd just be two Jamie type people. |
| 282 | * The reason ''Series/XPlay'' was ''very'' fond of finding a quote they thought was amusing, then repeating it. Again. And ''again''. And ''AGAIN''! |
| 283 | * This is practically [[Series/That70sShow Hyde's]] excuse for his antics--"Because, it's funnier this way." |
| 284 | * As an unrestrained parody of {{Cowboy Cop}}s, ''Series/SledgeHammer'' runs entirely on Rule of Funny. |
| 285 | * ''Series/PoliceSquad'' is nothing ''but'' this trope. Not surprising, as it was developed by the folks behind ''Film/{{Airplane}}'' |
| 286 | * Rule number one on the ''Series/ColgateComedyHour''. |
| 287 | * ''Series/{{Frasier}}'': There is no "Daphne Lane" in Seattle where Niles could find a street sign to steal (nor Maple Street, the intersection where he tries), but obviously you'd lose this plot if it were realistic. |
| 288 | * It'd be easier to list the parts of ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' that ''didn't'' rely on this. Tobias's "[[ThatCameOutWrong I'm afraid I just blue myself]]" is a classic example; the line is arguably funnier for the fact that there's no reason whatsoever for him to not turn "blue" into a past-tense verb. Note that Lindsay and Tobias both separately CallBack the line in Season 4, but her grammar is more correct ("Oh my God, he blued himself") while his isn't, reinforcing the idea that [[RunningGag this is a Tobias problem]]. |
| 289 | --> '''Michael:''' There's got to be a better way to say that. |
| 290 | * The songs in ''Series/CrazyExGirlfriend'', with the possible exceptions of "A Diagnosis" and 25% of "Nothing is Ever Anyone's Fault", are built around this, both in the lyrics and the visuals. A great example of this is "You Go First", an 80s power ballad parody where Rebecca and Paul's hair keeps getting bigger with every shot. |
| 291 | [[/folder]] |
| 292 | |
| 293 | [[folder:Music]] |
| 294 | %%* Music/DevinTownsend |
| 295 | %%** Ziltoid the Omniscient in particular. |
| 296 | %%* Music/FrankZappa |
| 297 | %%* Music/{{Primus}} |
| 298 | %%* Music/{{Megadeth}} has The Chosen Ones, based on ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail'''s Rabbit of Caerbannog. |
| 299 | * [[Music/WuTangClan Ghostface Killah]]'s ''Fishscale'' album includes the skit "Heart Street Directions", where a woman asks Ghostface directions to the title street and gets a rather explicit anatomy lesson instead (e.g. "you get on Bush Highway, you go past Vagina Street, you're gonna get off at Dick..."). Logically, someone in this situation would cut him off or just turn and walk away, but she lets him go on listing clearly fake, body-part-themed street names for nearly a full minute before finally calling him a "fucking pervert!". The listener wouldn't get to hear the whole monologue otherwise, and it's arguably funnier to picture her just patiently waiting for him to finish first. |
| 300 | [[/folder]] |
| 301 | |
| 302 | [[folder:Pro Wrestling]] |
| 303 | %%* Wrestling/{{CHIKARA}} Pro Wrestling, Incredibly Strange Wrestling, and Lucha Va-Voom practically run on it. |
| 304 | * Wrestling/DramaticDreamTeam in UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} has the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/ddt/ironman-hm00.html Ironman Heavymetalweight Title]], which is a {{Parody}} of the 24/7 rule for the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwf-hc.html WWE Hardcore Title]] and {{Garbage Wrestl|er}}ing in general. The ''second'' time that a ''ladder'' won the title (by falling on the champion), it was declared vacant when the President of the promotion ''convinced the ladder to give up the title''. The 1000th Champion was ''the title belt itself''. Wrestling/CandiceLeRae once defeated Wrestling/JoeyRyan for the title in a ''dream'' in his head. |
| 305 | [[/folder]] |
| 306 | |
| 307 | [[folder:Radio]] |
| 308 | * Why does Bluebottle in ''Radio/TheGoonShow'' keep getting deaded by explosions even when he's in the middle of a desert on a different continent to the pile of dynamite he's fleeing, then come BackFromTheDead to complain about being killed? Because it's funny. The same applies to...well...pretty much everything else related to the Goons. |
| 309 | ** Bluebottle's resurrections are justified in later series by his inhabiting a separate but overlapping (and equally real) reality to the other characters, in which they are all children playing games, and his frequent and often contrived "deading" is the others not playing fair. |
| 310 | * This trope was invoked behind the scenes once on ''Radio/TheJackBennyProgram''. Ronald Coleman, a dramatic actor, was a recurring guest star of Benny's, playing Jack's beleaguered next door neighbor. In one early rehearsal, Coleman, still in the mindset of an actor, asked the writer about one of his lines, wanting to know his motivation for saying the line. The writer replied "to get the biggest friggin' laugh possible". Still perplexed, he turned to his wife, Benita Hume, also guesting on the show, and asked her the same question. She replied "to get the biggest friggin' laugh possible." |
| 311 | ** In fact, Benny's philosophy on how the show should be written was this. He didn't care ''who'' got a laugh, so long as the ''line'' got a laugh. |
| 312 | [[/folder]] |
| 313 | |
| 314 | [[folder:Roleplay]] |
| 315 | * ''Roleplay/DestroyTheGodmodder'' ''runs'' on this. An attack almost always needs to be at least somewhat funny to have a shot at damaging the [[BigBad Godmodder]]. Even if the Godmodder isn't the target, adding humor to an attack usually boosts the damage that it deals. |
| 316 | [[/folder]] |
| 317 | |
| 318 | [[folder:Tabletop Games]] |
| 319 | * Pretty much everything the Orks do in ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000''. In this grimdark universe where there's only unceasing total war between every faction in the universe (who are all based on historical {{Badass Arm|y}}ies), you're likely to die being EatenAlive by [[HordeOfAlienLocusts Tyranids]] and the very ''god of hope'' is an utterly insane demonic entity which is empowered by your emotions, da Orks are a laughable bunch of green-skinned, hyper-deformed and barbaric FootballHooligans who roam around fighting everyone (including each other if they lack anything else) in massive migrations/crusades/pub crawls, all speak in silly accents and build ramshackle technology which runs on InsaneTrollLogic because they have subtle psychic powers which make it work like that. One famous Ork story had a Boss lead his Boyz into a Warpstorm which led him back in time to before he left, where he promptly decided to ''kill his past self so he could have a duplicate of his favourite gun''. [[TemporalParadox In the ensuing confusion]], his Boyz all decided to call it off and go home. |
| 320 | * Explicitly made into a game mechanic in the obscure superhero parody ''Stuperpowers'': if a player tries to do something the GM considers uproariously funny, it's an automatic critical success. |
| 321 | [[/folder]] |
| 322 | |
| 323 | [[folder:Theater]] |
| 324 | * The election night newsreel in ''Theatre/OfTheeISing'' relies heavily on the Rule of Funny. In particular, the actual opposition candidate is never identified, so all the election returns show Wintergreen vying with various celebrities, horses, intoxicating liquors, etc. |
| 325 | * Philocomasium's ZanyScheme in ''Miles Gloriosus'' depends very heavily on this, as she's masquerading as her free twin, while the man whose concubine she is has a guard for her. |
| 326 | [[/folder]] |
| 327 | |
| 328 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 329 | * ''VideoGame/KingdomOfLoathing'': A relentless HurricaneOfPuns and a bizarre array of {{Everything Trying To|KillYou}} [[InsistentTerminology Beat You Up]] make up only a fraction of the silliness. |
| 330 | * ''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay''. To explain, antics such as producing toilet paper from {{Hammerspace}} when fighting a giant singing poo, and drinking from a conveniently placed keg in order to defeat fire imps with "[[UrineTrouble yellow rain]]". Or as the game puts it, the "Context Sensitive Area". |
| 331 | * ''VideoGame/AtelierSeries'' games are lighthearted in general, but the ''[[VideoGame/ManaKhemiaAlchemistsOfAlRevis Mana]] [[VideoGame/ManaKhemia2FallOfAlchemy Khemia]]'' and DS games (''Liese'', ''[[VideoGame/AtelierAnnieAlchemistsOfSeraIsland Annie]]'', and ''Lina'') are practically made of this trope. |
| 332 | * ''VideoGame/MassEffect2's'' infamous "[[UranusIsShowing probing Uranus]]" joke requires a deviation from format to execute. Normally, when the player deploys a probe, the ship AI will say something like "Probe away" or "Deploying Probe." It never, never says "Probing [Planet Name]"... except when you launch a probe at Uranus, at which point you hear "probing Uranus." |
| 333 | ** Bonus points to this one because EDI first asks: "Really, [[PlayerCharacter Commander]]?" One can practically hear the {{facepalm}}. |
| 334 | * ''VideoGame/SuperheroLeagueOfHoboken'' pretty much runs on this trope, with enemies like giant hamburgers and chests of drawers and superpowers like "eating spicy foods without distress" or "folding roadmaps correctly". |
| 335 | * The DatingSim ''Videogame/AlwaysRememberMe'' has a few bonus silly endings where the protagonist declares her love for her [[HighSchoolSweethearts high school sweetheart's]] father and the NewOldFlame--as chibi versions of themselves. |
| 336 | * ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'' uses this a lot. To name a few instances: |
| 337 | ** In one chapter, Bayonetta hijacks a motorcycle and starts it using her middle finger. |
| 338 | ** If Bayonetta is crushed by large, ball-shaped objects, she [[SquashedFlat gets flattened like a cartoon character]], which looks very out-of-place in this game. It could either be this, the fact that the Umbran Witches may have the ability to flatten themselves, or both. |
| 339 | ** In a scene where Luka and Cereza are making a daring escape, the camera zooms in on their faces as a sparkle comes from their eyes, accompanied by an AudibleGleam...and then Cereza's doll, Cheshire, even does it too, and meows as it does so. |
| 340 | * ''VideoGame/FreddyPharkasFrontierPharmacist'': Do NOT attempt to follow any of the medical advice listed in the pharmacist's guide/manual. It is a parody of the more primitive state of medicine in the 19th Century and is only meant to be used as a source of humor and copy protection information. |
| 341 | * The entire basis for ''VideoGame/GoatSimulator'', pretty much. Why are you playing a goat? Why are the in-game physics so terrible? Because it's funny. |
| 342 | * 90% of everything that occurs in the ''VideoGame/HenryStickminSeries'' runs on this trope. The games will merrily flip back and forth between [[UnexpectedlyRealisticGameplay surprisingly realistic physics]] and ToonPhysics depending on which one would [[HaveANiceDeath create the funniest death for Henry]]. |
| 343 | * {{Satan}} from ''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo''. He likes Hawaiian Shirts and loves his pet rabbit that shoots beams out of its forehead, Carbuncle! His sidekick is a female martial artist with a severe jealous streak and blue hair named Rulue who owns a pet minotaur and there's dancing fish and cleanliness-obsessed maids and dragon girls forming fanclubs within Satan's... house... |
| 344 | * ''VideoGame/MonsterParty'': One of the bosses in the first level (based on a Bandai monster toy called Torigaran) is already dead when you enter the room. He apologizes for already being dead and not being able to fight you. What's the point of this and how can he apologize ''when he's dead''? Just for the sake of comedy. |
| 345 | * ''VideoGame/TromboneChamp'''s developers have said that their philosophy during development was "if it's funny, do it." This includes stuff like putting [[SillySimian baboons]] everywhere, telling ridiculous BlatantLies during loading screens and in trading card descriptions, or just making it hard to actually play on tune. |
| 346 | [[/folder]] |
| 347 | |
| 348 | %%[[folder:Web Animation]] |
| 349 | %%[[/folder]] |
| 350 | |
| 351 | [[folder:Web Comics]] |
| 352 | * There was once a ''VideoGame/CaveStory'' fan comic called "Tale of the Cave" which provided a nice standardized definition: "Everything that happens, happens because it's funny". The strip was written to address some fanmail that asked about the comic's use of DepthPerplexion and DepthDeception (Bat could fly around some objects via the foreground and background, but not other objects). |
| 353 | * In ''WebComic/EightBitTheater''. Fighter and Red Mage regularly take actions that [[LampshadeHanging other characters realize]] [[AchievementsInIgnorance should be completely impossible.]] The creator has said that the comic's continuity is whatever makes for the funniest joke at the time. |
| 354 | ** Black Belt, who is [[NoSenseOfDirection notoriously bad at navigating]], manages to get himself so lost that he goes back in time and encounters himself. Without any outside help. In a straight hallway. Yeah. |
| 355 | ** Lampshaded when the character Drizz'l uses a joke to "break the ice". Literal ice [[HarmlessFreezing that some other characters were trapped within.]] Everyone involved is amazed it worked. Drizz'l outright states he hates that it did. |
| 356 | ** 8-Bit Theater isn't above having characters act completely out of character. At least, we've seen Fighter [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2004/11/11/episode-481-black-belt-walks-into-a-bar/ be intelligent and rational]], Black Mage be cordial, and Red Mage briefly play the StraightMan. |
| 357 | * ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'' is probably one of the most nonsensical works of fiction ever written. It's also absolutely hilarious. |
| 358 | * ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' lives and breathes this trope. |
| 359 | ** [[http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=991114 Ferrets]] can break the sound barrier when they're given sugar. |
| 360 | ** A [[http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=991121 Cannibals' Anonymous]] support group includes a pair of zombies, an alien, and a miniature wooly mammoth clone. |
| 361 | ** A [[http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=970912 small bunny]] can [[{{Hammerspace}} produce a switchblade from nowhere]] and proceed to [[http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=970914 beat up a grizzly bear]]. |
| 362 | ** Brief references to the French Revolution or Oprah's Book of the Month club can [[http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=060412 instantly put people to sleep]]. |
| 363 | ** This quote should be at the top of the page: |
| 364 | -->[[spoiler:Dr Schlock: I'll be brief.]] |
| 365 | -->[[spoiler:Kusari: I'll be briefer [kills Schlock, turns to Daedalus] I've located and eliminated Dr. Schlock as you ordered, Daedalus.]] |
| 366 | -->[[spoiler:Daedalus: I wanted to hear what he had to say, but that was pretty funny so you get a pass.]] |
| 367 | * This very much governs ''Webcomic/BratHalla''. It tends to hew surprisingly closely to accurate Norse mythology within the confines of its premise... except when it would be funnier not to. Thus, Tyr is a pacifist, Fenrir is a rock star, half the dark elves are poser goths and emo kids who hang around coffee shops, and the closest thing the comic has to a BigBad is the eye Odin sacrificed to the Well of Mimir, imbued with sentience and severe abandonment issues. |
| 368 | * In ''[[https://web.archive.org/web/20080819231129/http://www.jaydenandcrusader.com/2008/08/15/the-computers-of-the-gods/ Jayden and Crusader]]'' this is referenced by a simple Saxon/Norse superstition being used in the 21st century, and turning out to be true for only the comic in which it is mentioned. |
| 369 | ** Later the Artist of J&C himself cited the Rule of Funny regarding his [[https://web.archive.org/web/20081215125857/http://www.jaydenandcrusader.com/2008/12/08/page-101/ own work]] |
| 370 | * As does the webcomic ''Webcomic/BobAndGeorge'' where this is called [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/040527 "The Gag Reflex"]]. |
| 371 | * In ''Webcomic/StickmanAndCube'', Humour is one of the main guiding forces of TheVerse, the other being Necessity, that is to say, stuff happens according to what is funny or needed at the time. |
| 372 | * ''Webcomic/TheWotch'' spin-off webcomic ''Cheer!'' features a pie catapult with an automatic targeting system [[http://cheer.thewotch.com/index.php?date=20070822 designed to maximize laughs]]. |
| 373 | * In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', Redcloak is able to summon Elementals based on the chemical elements even though no explanation is given for how he has come to learn of their existence in the first place. |
| 374 | ** He took a Chemistry course. [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0423.html And passed.]] |
| 375 | ** Per [[WordOfGod Word of The Giant]] there are three priorities for writing each comic, the very first and highest, is Rule of Funny, followed by the story and finally the rules of D&D |
| 376 | * ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'' - "[[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1425 I have no idea whether this comic actually makes sense. All I know is I could not stop laughing as I drew the last panel.]]" |
| 377 | * ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'' exists for this and RuleOfRomantic. Slightly prone to CerebusSyndrome. |
| 378 | ** [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-08-20 Why else would]] [[http://www.egscomics.com/sketchbook/?date=2010-07-06 THIS happen]]? |
| 379 | * A [[LampshadeHanging lampshade is hung on it]] in ''Webcomic/{{Nodwick}}'', when [[http://nodwick.humor.gamespy.com/gamespyarchive/index.php?date=2002-06-13 Nodwick is asked to lift a five-ton obelisk]]. |
| 380 | * Apparently ''[[Webcomic/DominicDeegan Donovan Deegan]]'' has been [[spoiler:[[http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2010-01-12 pretending to suck at orcish]]]] ''for over twenty years'' purely because of [[InvokedTrope this]] [[LampshadeHanging trope]]! |
| 381 | ** According to WordofGod the entire Wild Edges functions on [[http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2010-07-01 this rule.]] |
| 382 | * In ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'', Violetta is able to swap a hostage for a matching dummy of him, while the hostage is being physically held by his captor, while Violetta is physically separated from and arguing with said captor, with no explanation of where that dummy might possibly have come from. Just that she [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100226 specializes in misdirection and sleight of hand]]. |
| 383 | * ''Webcomic/ElectricWonderland'' personifies the Rule of Funny in Aerynn Arlia, a Magical Girl with no apparent limits. Aerynn can literally do anything at any time, as long as it's amusing — usually with {{Buttmonkey}} NJ as the victim. |
| 384 | * ''Webcomic/{{Shortpacked}}''. How, exactly, did Galasso manage to resurrect UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan (and later [[spoiler:the historical Jesus]])? |
| 385 | * Many things in ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', as well as its predecessor, ''Webcomic/ProblemSleuth'', can be explained by either this or RuleOfCool. ''Webcomic/ProblemSleuth'' leans more heavily on the "funny" side in comparison though. |
| 386 | -->''"The villain [of Homestuck] is a FUCKING DOG WEARING SUNGLASSES."'' |
| 387 | -->-- Creator/AndrewHussie |
| 388 | ** Compared to ''Problem Sleuth'' and ''Homestuck'', their predecessor ''Webcomic/{{Jailbreak}}'' is even more so; Rule of Funny justifies its entire existence. It makes no pretense of having a coherent world or story; Rule of Funny is its be-all and end-all. |
| 389 | * Although there's a lot of Rule of Funny going on in ''Webcomic/TouhouNekokayou'', one scene sticks out to me. Why use a giant laser, Marisa, when you can [[spoiler: [[http://dizzy.pestermom.com/?p=csa01marisa0585 use a giant pie]]]]? |
| 390 | * ''WebComic/DragonBallMultiverse'': Arale and Nekomajin have this as a power: Arale's basically an unconscious RealityWarper on Buu's level, and could have wiped the floor with Cell, and Nekomajin easily holds his own against Gotenks... as long as they can make a joke out of it. |
| 391 | * ''Webcomic/TwoGuysAndGuy'': Not only is sex with Wayne so inherently shameful that inanimate objects are ashamed of it, [[http://www.twogag.com/archives/3293 even masturbatory aids have that reaction.]] |
| 392 | * ''Webcomic/ManlyGuysDoingManlyThings'': This is pretty much how time travel operates by WordOfGod. InUniverse everyone treats it like ItRunsOnNonsenseoleum. |
| 393 | * ''Webcomic/DumbRWBY'' could basically be described as everything from WebAnimation/{{RWBY}} used for comedy. And [[BlackComedy yes]], we do mean '''[[CrossesTheLineTwice everything.]]''' |
| 394 | * ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' fan webcomic ''Webcomic/EveryoneIsHome'' uses this trope a lot, but one standout example is from [[https://www.woodenplankstudios.com/comic/really-healing-it-everyone-is-home/ "Really Healing It"]], where it's [[VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles1 Shulk's]] turn to be brought back from the dead (long story). [[VideoGame/AnimalCrossing Isabelle]] angrily insists that, as ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles'' lore is a JigsawPuzzlePlot spanning millennia of in-universe history, that they'll possibly even take ''weeks'' to figure out a way to revive Shulk, and that it might be that they have to "kill a god or something". Shulk's friends, despite Isabelle's protests, simply attempt to use their strongest healing moves at once to revive Shulk… ''and it works''. TheRant lampshades this without a hint of shame whatsoever: |
| 395 | -->"Silly fan comic logic > ''Xenoblade Chronicles'' universe logic" |
| 396 | [[/folder]] |
| 397 | |
| 398 | [[folder:Web Original]] |
| 399 | * ''Roleplay/DestroyTheGodmodder'' functions off of this, even as a game. It doesn't matter how good your attack is, if it isn't funny, it will almost never work. On the flip side, something that is inherently a baby of this has a far greater chance to succeed. One of the earliest examples was the summoning of Magikarp, who proceeds (through screwy mechanics) to flail at the godmodder, and then summon a tsunami. Guess which one connects. |
| 400 | * The "JustForFun" tropes on this site. Now, if only [[StopHavingFunGuys some people]] would realize that and stop putting them on the CutList... |
| 401 | * ''Obleeq'' from WebVideo/NatOneProductions runs almost exclusively on this. |
| 402 | * [[VideoGame/{{Tetris}} L-Block]] wins Website/GameFAQs Character Battle VI. |
| 403 | * Burnie Burns, writer of ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'', explicitly stated in an interview that he would sacrifice continuity for the sake of a good joke even in the post-CerebusSyndrome episodes of the series. |
| 404 | %%* Many jokes on ''[[[[https://www.youtube.com/user/ILVGwebmaster The Toad Show]]'' are like this. |
| 405 | * ''Literature/SkippysList'' has the line "I’m funny, so they let me live" to explain why he got away with being a goofball in the US Army. |
| 406 | * YouTubePoop takes this SerialEscalation with every second making absolutely no sense in the least, but still being extremely popular with a massive fanbase. |
| 407 | * In ''WebVideo/MidnightScreenings'', Brad tends to chew out the FridgeLogic of bad comedies, but says he would have excused them if the films were actually funny. |
| 408 | * In ''WebVideo/BradJonesDemoReel'', it turns out a VHS copy of ''Film/DawnOfTheDead'' can operate a camcorder. |
| 409 | * ''WebAnimation/HappyTreeFriends'' pretty much runs on this trope. It's the reason why the characters [[MadeOfPlasticine are killed or injured so absurdly easily]], how they keep [[TheyKilledKennyAgain coming back from the dead]], how [[HumanPopsicle Cro-Marmot moves]], how [[InvisibleAnatomy Handy does things that require hands offscreen]], and how [[LethallyStupid Lumpy and the Mole]] keep getting put into positions of responsibility despite their obvious incompetence, among other things. |
| 410 | * The nature of the main characters in ''WebVideo/MrDeity'' makes no sense unless you assume that they just run on this trope. |
| 411 | * The whole premise of ''WebVideo/EpicRapBattlesOfHistory'' is based on this trope. Don't try and figure out how dead people and fictional characters can randomly come to life for a rap battle, how they all became so skilled at rapping, or [[AnachronismStew how they know all about things that didn't exist in their lifetime]]. |
| 412 | * ''WebVideo/TFSAtTheTable'': Grammy the sea hag is a strange, unnatural creature, which basically means she can do whatever is funny for her to be doing at any time. Her biology is such that she can have part of her spine pulled out and fix it by applying metal shavings to the wound, and she freely utilises OffscreenTeleportation so that she can appear to be leering out of a window anywhere. In Chapter 3, Episode 7, she ends the Lockwood Talent Show with a stunning rendition of Free Bird, despite living in a universe where neither Music/LynyrdSkynyrd or electric guitars even exist. |
| 413 | * WebVideo/{{Kitboga}} is a scambaiter popular on Platform/{{Twitch}} and Platform/YouTube. A common practice in scamming is for the scammer to pretend to have transferred money to the intended victim and then ask them to go buy gift cards to replace the "excess money" that was transferred. To this end, Kit has set up a fake Google Play store on his virtual machine, which he then uses to pretend to redeem the gift cards, having his characters claim to believe that by doing this they are giving the scammer the money. Kit has admitted that especially when it comes to some of his characters who surely aren't as feeble-minded as [[ScatterbrainedSenior Granny Edna]], the fake gift card redeem becomes less believable because there's no clear reason why his character shoud reasonably think that redeeming the gift cards on their own account is how the scammer could possibly get money. He still does it anyway because, of course, it's hilarious and it also infuriates the scammers in a way nothing else quite can. |
| 414 | [[/folder]] |
| 415 | |
| 416 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 417 | * ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' is probably the ultimate litmus test for it. If they can't make it funny, ''no one'' can. |
| 418 | --> "You know what this means? AIDS is finally funny!" |
| 419 | * The Afterlife was never discussed in Season 1 of ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks''. However, in Episode 201, [[spoiler:Stinkmeaner comes BackFromTheDead]]. This is officially the funniest episode. |
| 420 | * The CutawayGag moments in ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' often show bizarre things. Their prevalence amped greatly following the series' return, which attracted criticism from various other cartoonists and comedians and was parodied in the "Cartoon Wars" episodes of ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark''. [[Creator/SethMacFarlane MacFarlane's]] response was: |
| 421 | -->What should I know about the vast territory that lies beyond the confines of my little subculture of textbooks, Ramen noodles, coin-operated laundry and TV shows that seem to think they can skate by with random jokes about giant chickens that have absolutely nothing to do with the overall narrative? The boys at South Park are absolutely correct: Those cutaways and flashbacks have nothing to do with the story! They're just there to be... funny. And that is a shallow indulgence that South Park is [[StealthInsult quite above]], and for that I salute them.\ |
| 422 | -- '''Seth [=MacFarlane=]''', in character as [[WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy Stewie Griffin]], Harvard Class Day 2006 |
| 423 | ** Arguably one of the most polarizing points in the show's evolution for fans was when the characterizations became dependant on the trope. Depending on the gag, the entire cast can switch between likable yet wacky characters akin to the original episodes or FauxAffablyEvil psychopaths taking part in high order ComedicSociopathy. This is even more jarring when originally [[OnlySaneMan level headed and more humanized]] characters such as Lois and Brian [[{{Flanderization}} join in on the sadism]] [[ComedicSociopathy of a gag]]. |
| 424 | * ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' takes this trope to physics. For some reason, the characters can light fire, have snow, and running water, while the series takes place ''underwater.'' Naturally, this leads to LampshadeHanging: |
| 425 | -->'''Patrick:''' Hey, if we're underwater, how can there be a fi--''([[PuffOfLogic fire goes out]])'' |
| 426 | ** Another one is when a building is on fire. Disregarding the fact that they're underwater, the audience can accept this one. But then [=SpongeBob=] grabs a bucket, sweeps it through the "air" and collects a bucket of water to put out the fire. Hmmm... |
| 427 | ** In "Doing Time", [=SpongeBob=] and Mrs. Puff drive over an ''unfinished'' bridge with the Mayor at the opening cutting the ribbon, because apparently in [[CrapsackWorld Bikini Bottom]], it's acceptable to open something that's half-built. |
| 428 | ** In "Snowball Effect", Patrick attempts to make a simple snowball. Instead, he manages to make a snow cube, a snow pyramid, and a snow double-helix. |
| 429 | ** In "Patty Hype", the people who ate [=SpongeBob=]'s Pretty Patties come to Mr. Krabs, now the owner of the stand selling them, demanding refunds after the patties change their colors. One guy got a glow in the dark tongue, and despite being ''outside'' he pulls a lamp chain hanging next to him, turning everything dark as if he turned off the light on a ceiling fan indoors. |
| 430 | ** In "Boat Smarts", when [=SpongeBob=] crashes into Squidward's boat, he sends Squidward's seat flying out. For no reason other than to screw him over, Squidward then gets launched toward a vehicle with some kind of rock grinder affixed to the front. |
| 431 | ** The two times Squidward gets sent flying off his bike and off a cliff in "Jellyfishing" and "My Pretty Seahorse", he suddenly explodes for no reason other than this trope. |
| 432 | ** In "[=SpongeGuard=] on Duty", [=SpongeBob=] attempts to save Patrick from drowning by drinking all of the water in Goo Lagoon. Despite [=SpongeBob=] using a straw, he somehow sucks Patrick up as well. |
| 433 | ** In "Frankendoodle", the plot is caused by an artist losing his pencil while he was drawing on a boat in the middle of the sea, in a place where there's not much to inspire you to draw. |
| 434 | ** "Pickles" has Squidward taking over as fry cook at the Krusty Krab when [=SpongeBob=] is unable to work, and being very bad at it; somehow, he burns a customer's ''milkshake''. |
| 435 | ** In "[=SpongeBob=] Meets the Strangler", when the Strangler is being arrested, the police not only cuff his hands but also his legs, thumbs, [[EyeScream eyes]], and hair. |
| 436 | ** In "Tutor Sauce", Mr. Krabs tries to teach [=SpongeBob=] how to drive using a video game simulator. Like with [=SpongeBob=]'s other boats, the ''simulator'' ends up crashing into the Krusty Krab. |
| 437 | * In the Literature/GeronimoStilton cartoon, Geronimo's cousin Trap is asked to provide a diversion, while the rest of the mains sneak somewhere undetected by pe... other mice. What does Trap do? Pretend on being a space alien (complete with a toy helmet with antennas). Geronimo thinks this is stupid. However, the [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments whole city]], even the mayor, fall for it! |
| 438 | * In the ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' episode "[[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheSerpentsPass The Serpent's Pass]]" Toph is rescued from drowning by Suki and (thinking she is Sokka) gives her a [[HoYay big kiss]]. Even though Toph is blind, there was nothing to stop her from noticing the makeup during the kiss, but the resulting scene is funny because of Toph's deadpan delivery after she figures out it's Suki, not Sokka. |
| 439 | -->'''Toph:''' Oh...well... [Chuckles. Embarrassed.] you can go ahead and let me drown now. |
| 440 | * An instance similar to the [=SpongeBob=] example occurs in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode "[[Recap/FuturamaS2E12TheDeepSouth The Deep South]]", when Zoidberg's house burns to the ground... underwater. Zoidberg wails "How could this have happened?" and Hermes notes, "That's a very good question." Implicitly claiming responsibility, Bender picks his still-lit cigar out of the ruins and puffs on it -- eliciting a cry of, [[VoodooShark "That just raises further questions!"]] |
| 441 | ** What makes that really funny is that they explain everything that happens in that episode with pseudo-science (in fact, most of the episode is things being explained away.) But for that one last thing, there's absolutely no scientific reasoning. |
| 442 | ** ''Futurama'' is fond of both this rule and lampshading it. In "[[Recap/FuturamaS1E12WhenAliensAttack When Aliens Attack]]", aliens are threatening to invade Earth and the planet sends Zapp Branigan to destroy the mothership. After an epic battle with a massive, well-guarded space installation, Earth succeeds in destroying the thing. Zapp celebrates the victory, before a substantially larger ship pops into view. This, it turns out, is the mothership. When Zapp asks what they just destroyed, Kiff looks at a computer screen, groans and says, "The Hubble telescope." Series producer David X. Cohen said in the episode's commentary track that he knew the joke made absolutely no sense, but loved it so much he had to keep it in. |
| 443 | ** Lampshaded again by Amy in "[[Recap/FuturamaS2E5WhyMustIBeACrustaceanInLove Why Must I Be a Crustacean in Love?]]", where the plot gets kicked off by the crew deciding to sign up for the gym. Leela and Amy walk into the Planet Express lounge, where a noticeably-chubby Fry and Bender are watching TV. |
| 444 | ---> '''Leela:''' Look at you guys. No offense, Fry, but you've become a fat sack of crap.\ |
| 445 | '''Fry:''' [[ITakeOffenseToThatLastOne Sack]]?\ |
| 446 | '''Amy:''' And Bender; your beer belly's so big your door won't even close. [[LampshadeHanging And that doesn't even make sense]]. |
| 447 | * Most classic theatrical cartoons, particularly ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'', ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' and much of the oeuvre of Creator/TexAvery. Don't question where the [[AnvilOnHead anvils]] are coming from, just laugh at it because it's silly. |
| 448 | ** Why, they come from ACME, Inc. of course. |
| 449 | ** ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' is one of the kings of this trope. There is very rarely anything close to continuity and most stories are simply sketches where characters can be almost impossibly stupid just to be tricked in funny ways and both their lines and the gags depend on puns. |
| 450 | * In perhaps one of the most bizarre applications of the rule ever, the ''size'' of the character Endive in ''WesternAnimation/{{Chowder}}'' is governed by Rule of Funny. She can vary from about the same size as everyone else, if rather... large, to a towering giant, depending on what's needed for the joke at hand. |
| 451 | * ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' has a scene where Starscream, revived and granted immortality by a fragment of the Allspark, repeatedly tries, and fails, to kill Megatron. You'd probably spend the whole time wondering why the other Decepticons didn't try to get rid of him in any other way, were it not so amusing to see him getting blasted to crap and tossed into a river repeatedly. |
| 452 | ** The Starscream death montage has been called one of the greatest moments in all of ''Transformers''. |
| 453 | * ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Justice League Unlimited]]'': |
| 454 | ** In the episode "Kid Stuff" the kidified Justice Leaguers face off against a baby version of the demon ComicBook/{{Etrigan}}. There is absolutely no reason at all for why Etrigan should be a baby or why Etrigan should be in this episode at all. One would think that Mordred would have banished Etrigan along with all the other adults, seeing as they've been mortal enemies literally for centuries. But damn if Baby Etrigan isn't the funniest thing you ever did see. |
| 455 | ** The writers have also admitted that this is why "[[FreakyFridayFlip The Great Brain Robbery]]" wasn't scrapped. |
| 456 | * ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'' has a case of Rule of Funny backfiring: Father eating ice cream in ''WesternAnimation/OperationZERO''... instead of having an epic battle with Grandfather. |
| 457 | * ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'': This is probably the reason why Stella makes Kiko impersonate Flora in season 3 episodes 5 and 6 when there were enough pixies present to impersonate the other girls. |
| 458 | %%* ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'' basically operate on this. |
| 459 | %%* As do ''WesternAnimation/JimmyTwoShoes'', ''WesternAnimation/SheepInTheBigCity'', and ''WesternAnimation/{{Catscratch}}''. |
| 460 | * ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998'': |
| 461 | ** Normal girls defeating [[GeniusBruiser Mojo Jojo]] with pillows at a slumber party. |
| 462 | ** In a late-series episode, the Amoeba Boys discover that they can multiply and use this ability to steal all the oranges in Townsville. Everyone gets scurvy as a result. |
| 463 | * Any ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'' sketch. One that immediately comes to mind is [[WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003 Robin]] adding WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtHead to his team. |
| 464 | ** This was discussed by the writers during the commentary for their ''Franchise/StarWars'' miniseries. During the concept phase they were torn over the voice of Boba Fett, whether they should impersonate Jason Wingreen (the original) or Creator/TemueraMorrison (from the prequel trilogy), and they ultimately decided that it would be funniest to just make him "sound as sexy as possible". |
| 465 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' has a few examples. After the first few seasons, the premise that it was simply an "animated sitcom" began to be interpreted a lot more loosely, with much more stereotypically "cartoon logic." |
| 466 | ** "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS5E2CapeFeare Cape Feare]]" invokes this trope to a significant extent. It was the last hurrah for a number of the show's original writers who were leaving. They threw every wacky or random gag into the episode with the mentality of "What are they going to do? Fire us?" This resulted in one of the most highly regarded episodes of the show ever. Among other things, the episode features an elephant stepping on Bob's face and Bob putting on a full Gilbert and Sullivan opera (complete with costumes and a playbill) after being asked to do so on the spot. |
| 467 | ** ''The Simpsons'' is a {{Long Runner|s}} which slips a running gag past the MoralGuardians. BumblingDad and {{Jerkass}} Homer repeatedly strangles his son, Bart. This is always PlayedForLaughs and excused on the Rule of Funny. |
| 468 | *** Which makes it even funnier when they ''do'' treat it as child abuse. One episode had Homer take fathering lessons. He tells the class a story where Bart, the little dickens, calls him fat. He then casually say 'so then I was strangling him when...' causing the whole group to drop their jaws and question what kind of man he is. Completely played for laughs how they react, and even has Homer reveal that's how he was raised, not that Abe strangled him when he did bad, but that ''Homer'' strangled his ''father'' every time he tried to punish him. One of the funniest scenes ever. |
| 469 | ** In several episodes, Ned's biblical references are complete nonsense, and simply sound like weird things from the Old Testament. In the episode "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS7E3HomeSweetHomediddlyDumDoodily Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodily]]", for instance, he expresses shock that Bart and Lisa are unfamiliar with the story of the "the Bridal Feast of Beth Chedruharazzeb." |
| 470 | ** Every other episode has MagicRealism in some way, with supernatural beings appearing [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment for no reason other than this.]] [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in one episode where Lisa says that cartoons don't have to be 100% realistic, to which Homer [[FunnyBackgroundEvent appears in two places at once.]] |
| 471 | * On the 80's ''[[WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero G.I. Joe]]'', Barbecue receives several cryptic phone calls from someone calling himself 'The Viper'. Each call gives information that ends up leading to victories over Cobra, and both sides desperately want to know who he is; Cobra to stop the leak, the Joes who fear an eventual set-up. Finally, the Viper reveals himself: [[spoiler: he is an older Eastern European man with a thick accent, 'The Wiper' there to 'Vipe Your Vindows']]. Now, there are any number of ways both Joe and Cobra could have found this out long before the ba-rump-bump ending, such as hearing the joke before. None of them would have been as funny. |
| 472 | * Pinkie Pie from ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' regularly pulls off hilariously [[BeyondTheImpossible impossible feats like being in multiple places at the same time, outrunning the faster flier in Equestria while only moving at a casual skipping pace]], or suddenly appearing in places she couldn't possibly fit into. By 'couldn't possibly fit into' we mean Pinkie at one point simply manifests in a mirror. This [[EpilepticTrees may or may not have something to do]] with her connection to the Element of Laughter. She is practically this trope personified (or ponified, in her case). |
| 473 | ** One common mistake in fanfics is to have her doing unusual things because the author thinks they're inherently funny, when within the show her powers only manifest if they can deliver a comic payoff to an established setup. Think more ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' less ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''. |
| 474 | ** It’s implied Scootaloo’s inability to fly is because her wings are too small...however, the wings of Bulk Biceps are the same size, and he can fly. If wings that size can get a body made of pure muscle off the ground, there’s no reason why they wouldn’t work on a filly. |
| 475 | ** The episode "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E6SleeplessInPonyville Sleepless in Ponyville]]" has Sweetie Belle [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7egMfTgaRk obnoxiously singing "99 Buckets of Oats on the Wall,"]] even though [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E18TheShowStoppers an earlier episode]] established that she's actually a good singer. Of course, no one really cares that this is OutOfCharacter of her, since it's [[Funny/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic funny]]. |
| 476 | ** "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS6E1TheCrystallingPart1 The Crystalling: Part 1]]" has Starlight Glimmer accidentally walking in on a towel-clad Spike in the bathroom. She looks away embarrassed, despite the fact that she lives in a world of talking {{Funny Animal}}s who are naked all the time anyway and they have [[AnimalsLackAttributes no features to cover]], but its forgotten in this instance because its funny. |
| 477 | * In the ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'' episode "Prankless", when East Pines Park is at a deadly prank war with the main characters' park, Muscle Man defeats the East Pines manager Gene by scaring him with the illusion of him headed toward the sun. After Gene submits, Muscle Man explains that he created the illusion with giant mirrors around the East Pines watchtower. |
| 478 | * There was an episode of the Creator/{{Disney}} show ''WesternAnimation/TheBuzzOnMaggie'' in which Maggie got electrocuted by her older brother's hand buzzer, resulting in XRaySparks. It should be noted that this show is a high school comedy involving ''insects'', and insects do not have inner skeletons. |
| 479 | ** Considering that's a slice of life cartoon in which most characters are played by insects, it makes sense for cartoonists to make them appear [[MostWritersAreHuman humanoid]] whenever and however they can. Part of us viewers are [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes entomophobic]] to some level, after all. |
| 480 | * In the early ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyBravo'' episode "The Perfect Gift", Johnny is looking for a job and one of his choices is working at a battery factory where his job is to electrocute himself with the batteries to see which ones work and which ones don't. He accidentally puts a dud in the accepted pile and one of the workers uses it to replace the battery in one of the smoke detectors, but for no particular reason the factory has a cow next to an oil lamp who kicks it over and causes a fire [[note]]A reference to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Chicago_Fire the Great Chicago Fire of 1871]], which was rumored to have been caused the same way[[/note]], and thanks to the smoke detector not working the sprinklers don't go off. |
| 481 | * ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'': |
| 482 | ** When Stan asks why Jeff can't live with his own family in the episode "Joint Custody", Hayley tells him that Jeff hasn't spoken to his father in years and his mother ran away before he was born. Stan is understandably confused, since that would only make sense if it was the other way around. |
| 483 | ** In "A Ward Show", when Steve no longer has Principal Lewis' protection he gets beat up by three teachers whom he antagonized earlier because Lewis let him do what he wanted in the teachers' lounge. In response Roger [[DisproportionateRetribution plants]] [[ExternalCombustion bombs]] in their cars, but after the first two cars explode and the last teacher tries to make a break for it ''he'' explodes instead, leaving only his legs. |
| 484 | ** In "Blagsnarst, A Love Story", Roger tries to make a weapon by combining some sticks, a rock and some gum. [[BehindTheBlack When the camera zooms out]], he now has a functioning assault rifle. |
| 485 | ** In "Permanent Record Wrecker", when a boy in a child cart gets sent flying over a produce bin and crashes into several jars of BlazingInfernoHellfireSauce, the sauce suddenly lights on fire, and when it reaches the overturned cart [[EveryCarIsAPinto it explodes]]. |
| 486 | * In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'' episode "Skytanic", Archer and Lana are on a blimp and discover a bomb. They put Ray, the [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness (then)]] bomb expert, on video call as they try to read the bomb's serial code under interference. There's no explanation for why they can't just point the camera at the serial code, but the result is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K_WmV50e7c one of the funniest scenes on the show.]] |
| 487 | * ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' practically ran on this: |
| 488 | ** In "It's About Time!", when Phineas, Ferb, and Candace are lost in prehistoric times, they recreate their time machine's blueprint on a slab in the museum so the Fireside Girls can recreate it in the present. Phineas leaves off the "m" in "time", so the girls end up building a tie machine instead. |
| 489 | ** "Raging Bully" reveals that Dr. Doofenshmirtz's HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood began with ''neither of his parents'' showing up on the day he was born. |
| 490 | ** In "Unfair Science Fair", another flashback shows that Doofenshmirtz lost two consecutive science fairs to a baking soda volcano. The same happens when he competes against another baking soda volcano in a poetry competition. |
| 491 | ** In "Out to Launch", all of Phineas and Ferb's attempts at simulating a rocket launch end in catastrophic failure until Ferb points out that their equation includes them dividing by the square root of a CartoonBomb. They're successful when Phineas replaces the bomb with a smiley face. |
| 492 | ** In "Ain't No Kiddie Ride", the boys modify a set of kiddie rides to turn them into rocket-propelled vehicles. When Baljeet's machine powers down and he has no quarter to restart it, he tries to put a dollar in and [[NoSnackForYou the machine won't accept it]]. At the end of the episode, Baljeet irons the dollar and the machine accepts it, but the ''ironing board'' takes off instead, and when he kicks the machine, it takes off as well. |
| 493 | ** In "The Lemonade Stand", Doofenshmirtz's latest get rich quick scheme is to use paper airplanes to give people paper cuts so he can sell them bandages. The paper is somehow strong enough to cut the thumb on Phineas and Ferb's lemonade-making robot, which shuts down when it gets lemon juice in the wound. |
| 494 | ** During the "Way of the Platypus" musical montage in "Doof Dynasty", Baljeet tries to karate chop a board in half. Instead, the cinder blocks the board is on disintegrate and the board itself remains in mid-air. |
| 495 | ** In "Skiddley Whiffers", when Doofenshmirtz explains to Perry why he's trying to protect Vanessa on her camping trip, we're treated to another flashback from his HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood where he gets [[ScaryStingingSwarm attacked by bees]], which leads to him falling off a cliff, through a patch of thorn bushes, and through a field of fire hydrants. He then shows Perry that he has a hydrant stuck inside his leg (he can't have it removed because it's too close to an artery), which appears out of nowhere and disappears just as quickly. |
| 496 | * A grim example (shared by Comic Books above) comes from ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' in the form of the Joker. He only commits crimes if they're funny--unfortunately for everyone in Gotham, [[EvilHasABadSenseOfHumor he has a really sick sense of humor]]. |
| 497 | ** This is lampshaded in "The Laughing Fish," when the Joker uses an altered version of his Joker venom to mutate every fish in Gotham to resemble him; he then attempts to copyright the fish so he can fund his criminal empire. When Mr. Francis, the bureaucrat who runs the Gotham Patent Office explains that natural resources like fish ''can't'' be copyrighted, the Joker threatens him. Later that evening, Francis wonders aloud why on earth the Clown Prince of Crime is interested in a meager civil servant like him; Batman responds that "in [the Joker's] sick mind, that's the joke." |
| 498 | ** In "Mad Love," Harley Quinn devises a plan to kidnap and kill Batman based on one of the Joker's old schemes--put the Caped Crusader in a straitjacket and throw him in a tank full of piranhas. The Joker discarded this plan because [[InsaneTrollLogic piranhas can't smile]]; Harley finds a way around this by hanging Batman upside-down, which will make the fishes' frowns turn to grins from his perspective. When Joker discovers what Harley is up to, he flies into an absolutely terrifying rage and starts ''beating'' her. She protests, explaining how she altered the plan, which prompts the following response as he throws her out a three-story window to the streets below: |
| 499 | --->'''The Joker''': Except you had to EXPLAIN IT TO ME! If you have to ''explain'' a joke, '''''THERE IS NO JOKE!''''' |
| 500 | ** In "Joker's Favor," everyman Charlie Collins has a terrible day and cusses out a motorist who cuts him off in traffic; the motorist turns out to be the Joker. Charlie begs for his life, and the Joker agrees to spare him if he promises to do "a little favor" someday. He then holds this over Charlie's head for ''two years'', eventually calls him up to play an extremely inconsequential role in a scheme (Charlie has to hold a door open for Harley), and tries to kill him anyway. The audience is left to assume that the Caliph of Clowns did this because he thought it'd be funny. |
| 501 | * Overlaps with RuleOfThree in ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' episode "The Grass is Greener": the things that randomly explode in Timmy's Dad's face include his lawnmower, his barbecue grill, and a completely normal-looking burger. |
| 502 | * On ''WesternAnimation/{{Wallykazam}}'', even though Norville talks more in later installments, he mostly just uses short declaratives or repeats what Wally says. Nevertheless, in the teaser segment of "The Bathmobile," he and Wally chat on telephones Wally created with his magic stick like a couple of school-pals, apparently simply because of Rule of Funny. |
| 503 | * WordOfGod said nothing in ''WesternAnimation/DrawnTogether'' is ever meant to make any sense other than that it's funny. You'll go nuts trying to comprehend it. Specifically, [[NegativeContinuity characters die and come back in the same episode with no explanation]] even though there are '''cameras watching what they do'''. |
| 504 | [[/folder]] |
| 505 | [[folder:Real Life]] |
| 506 | * This was successfully used as a legal argument to get an Australian man his job back in May 2020. About a year and a half earlier, he made a WebVideo/HitlerRants video while his union was going through contract negotiations where the company was Hitler. He posted it to a closed Facebook group but his manager saw it and fired him. The judge in the case ruled that since he was clearly joking and not literally calling them Nazis, the video was protected speech and therefore his termination was unlawful. He was also awarded a cash settlement for damages. |
| 507 | [[/folder]] |
| 508 |
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/context.php
FollowingContext Main / RuleOfFunny
Go To
- Show Spoilers
- Night Vision
- Sticky Header
- Wide Load
