Movie Story Types: Buddy Picture
I was rummaging through my lecture files and found a series I did on Movie Story Types, everything from FOOW (Fish-Out-Of-Water) to Underdog, Road Trip to The Blank From Hell. Not the same as genre, but every bit as much a part of movie jargon.
I figured I’d post what I had over the course of the next few weeks. Let’s start today with Buddy Picture.
Think yin and yang. The idea here is to pair two characters with opposite (or nearly opposite) personalities, immerse them in a plot, and watch the hijinks and mayhem ensue. There are several different variations on this set-up including:
The classic buddy picture where two different “worlds” collide (THE ODD COUPLE, HAROLD AND MAUDE, RUSH HOUR, E.T., TWINS).
You may have one character who is the Protagonist, typically starting out uptight and passive, while the other is a Trickster who “loosens” up the Protagonist so that s/he discovers his/her real Self. Or Co-Protagonists who both transform (NIGHT SHIFT, MIDNIGHT RUN, ANALYZE THIS).
Another approach is to make the two characters more similar (DUMB & DUMBER, BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID., SOME LIKE IT HOT.)
Yet another variation on the same theme are stories where the two characters seem opposite, but actually turn out to have much more in common than they believed at the beginning — K-9 for example.
Of course, not all buddy pictures are comedies. Examples of more dramatic fare include RAIN MAN, ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN, and THELMA AND LOUISE.
Why is this story type so popular? (1) The collision of two personalities and world views ensures there will be conflict throughout the story, which is a necessary ingredient to make sparks fly. (2) The concept also ensures that there will be a discernable transformation storyline. (3) Studios like buddy pictures because they can pair two stars and get a bigger share of the market by drawing both stars’ fans; or two B-list stars and achieve A-list box office results. (4) Finally, pairing two distinct and distinctive personalities makes it much easier for studios to market the movie.
What are some of your favorite buddy pictures?