Although enshrined as a seminal piece of pop-entertainment, Star Wars is rarely remembered as being funny. Quite frankly, this isn't a surprise. Many of its installments are somewhat dour, with limbs getting lopped off, full-scale genocide being alluded to, and Freudian nightmares running amok. However, underneath its focus on sprawling, intergalactic conflict, the world that George Lucas created actually contains quite a bit of wit. This flair for comedy is rooted in the strength of the film's characters, not to mention the well-developed world and mythology that the series established over the course of six films. Now, the actual comedy of the franchise is far more apparent in the original trilogy. In the prequels Star Wars humour became incredibly infantile, with most bits revolving around broad pratfalls by the infamous Jar-Jar, or dry and rather grating shtick between Anakin and his mentor Obi-Wan. This isn't to say there isn't a laugh or two to be found throughout the three more-recent films, they are just more sporadic. This list will explore ten lighthearted moments from this iconic space opera, and touch upon what made each scene great. From the acerbic albeit hilarious comments from Captain Solo, to the prissy yet still endearing personality of C-3PO, it will all be covered.
Adam Mohrbacher has been afflicted with an obession for film since his earliest memories. In addition to his work with WhatCulture, Adam has been a contributor with Filmophilia.com, FilmMonthly.com and Examiner.com. You can also check out his personal blog here: adammohrbacher@wordpress.com.
A devoted fan of all film genres and styles, Adam gets equally giddy over the sensitive, existential musings of Ingmar Bergman, and the brawny brilliance of Arnold Schwartzenegger. He loves fish tacos and misses the work of Heath Ledger and Jack Lemmon on a daily basis.
