I was watching Disney’s new Pinocchio remake and while the movie felt more wooden than its main character, there was a certain line that stuck out to me, a rather poor use of meta humor. At one point in the first act, Jimminy Cricket turns to the camera and says:
“Of course, I’m a talking cricket so I’m not one to pass judgment on what’s real”
From Deadpool to Adventure Time it seems that every series needs to have a moment where everything pauses to the characters can comment on how weird the very show itself is. These kinds of meta jokes have gradually appeared throughout the 2010s, whether they be films, video games, or streaming series making use of them to the applauds of audiences worldwide.
Sometimes it can be hilarious like Hulk Hogan telling Gremlins 2 to turn Gremlins 2 back on but other times it can be obnoxious, and even detrimental to the title. The screaming goats in Thor: Love and Thunder are a testament to that. For more on the problems of modern meta humor, consider subscribing to our newsletter and read the full article for free just by putting your email address in the box below:
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