And Now for a Complete Change of Mood

Confession: I'm lonely.

Reading:

• Someplace to be Flying, by Charles de Lint

Writing:

• "Ferian Fetlock Cures a Horse"

Revising:

• "Cora and the Sea"

I just got through watching Hancock, and I must say, I was pleased. Good movie, and it got a good reaction from the audience.

But here's why I mention it on a writing blog: abrupt changes of mood. It started out as a comedy... oh, look at the drunk-ass superhero wrecking LA! He says funny things and does funny things while drunk! And saving people!

Then it got a little serious. Hancock has fucked up his life and he starts trying to fix it. It's not easy, but he makes progress. Inspirational! Uplifting!

And there's where I expected the movie to end. Clear character progression, asshole to hero, and there you go. But this movie went further.

At the risk of giving the plot away, Hancock loses his powers and kinda sorta but not really dies. The fight that lead up to it was brutal. The audience jumped with each blow, and I still have a headache from muscle tension. It was that visceral.

And the fight ended on a gag. I laughed, more out of relief and surprise than humor, but it weirded me out. It seemed a poor payoff for such a serious fight.

How should humor and drama be mixed? When two scenes are juxtaposed, should there be a cooling off period before humor is introduced again? How much effect does a chapter break have in resetting the internal appropriateness counter? I'm guessing it's not the same in everyone.