The laid back world of comedy

The new laid back "dude" seems to need an arsenal of pot, beer, and nudie mags to be all he can be, but where did this change take place?

I recently saw the films, "Observe and Report" and "I Love You, Man." Quick review for you, "Observe and Report" is a violent romp of painfully unfunny scenes and made me want to see Kevin James ("Paul Blart: Mall Cop") with his "Hello Kitty" band-aids and porno 'stache.

As for "I Love You, Man," it might have been my mindset, but this was probably the greatest comedy I had seen since "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." The story of a man who needs a good guy friend, connected with me on a level many comedies have never even touched. The awkward humor of the always brilliant Paul Rudd ("Anchorman") made the film. Jason Segel ("Forgetting Sarah Marshall") was great as well and a gem of a comedy actor hidden by all the Saturday Night Live leftovers. "I Love You, Man" is a great film and makes you realize what counts in life and will make you piss your pants with laughter, well it made me.

However, my issue with these two films is within the context of the story. That is the persona of the laid back character. He is the dude who likes to chill, watch T.V., and shred on his guitar. On top of these simple entertaining material objects there are drugs and alcohol, the sex is for personal time in the LA-Z-BOY.

It has become apparent to me that the laid back guy needs drugs such as marijuana first of all, then if that's not enough cocaine, Ecstasy, or even to go as far as heroine. It seems very lazy screenwriting to just give this person a seriously personal drug issue to show that he is a "cool" guy and is able to just "go with the flow."

I never imagined I would defend the film "Observe and Report," but the character who originally uses illegal substances turns out to be the bad guy, but not before transforming a normal individual like Ronnie Barnhardt (Seth Rogen) into a drug maniac who doesn't turn away from this "laid back baddie" until he witnesses him robbing a jewelry store. It is wrong to give these views of people as laid back or "cool" individuals when they are abusing drugs and alcohol.

This is especially noted when I saw the film "I Love You, Man" where Jason Segel plays a very cool character who can figure people out with just a quick glance, but there is an instant where in his bachelor pad you catch glance of a bong and I didn't lose respect for the character so much as I lost respect for the comedy genre as of late.

I will not deny I liked "Pineapple Express" and loved "Tropic Thunder" which both have substance abuse and couldn't help, but laugh when Jack Black was tied to a tree trying to get over his addiction. However, the humor has gone to far when it is just thrown in for a quick drug joke for the heck of it. The bong added nothing to the character Segel plays and I was slightly upset that these directors and writers think we are all gonna fall for the "pot equals cool" message.

I'm not saying stop the stoner comedy, but have a reason for it. The fact is James Franco in "Pineapple Express" needed to use substances to portray the character right and if you wanted to see a substance abused has-been comedian, Jack Black played it best. A security card doesn't need to shoot up to rob a mall, and a classy "dude" doesn't need pot to party.