Do the french have a sense of humor?

Sure. Watching French comedies shows there is much in common with English comedy. But it doesn't always translate. For instance, I just don't get Les Visiteurs. It's not funny to me at all. But Tatie Danielle and Le Diner de Con slay me.

It's the same with American humour. It doesn't always come across. I don't think anyone in my country finds anything funny in saying "Where's the beef?" or "Got milk?" or "That's gotta hurt". It's obviously something cultural and we really don't get it.

I think some British humour would be mystifying to Americans too. We use irony at some point in virtually every exchange with people. We don't go for big jokes. Our humour is subtle and sly and often stays unnoticed. We use it to insult each other massively while still sounding polite. I try very hard not to do it here.

My friend was in France a while back, and he got his hand cut really really bad, and he tried to get help. Nobody on the street would help him, they would just say no (most of them understood that he needed help), and keep walking. Nobody would bother to help... I'm just saying. I don't really know how that relates to the actual post... just thought I would say.

French humor has no subtlety and is always too much. They love Jerry Lewis but no get nuance.

Which is interesting since nuance is their bloody word.

Sometimes humor is an inside joke.

The French won`t exist much longer if they don`t control thier immigration problem. The French do away with themselves.

I agree with dappled, humor doesn't translate well. Kinda like the old saying "I guess you had to be there", we just don't have the whole background of where the humor is coming from so we don't get it.

Well, of course the french have a sense of humor. Everybody has a sense of humor.

Of course. Haven't you ever heard of Canada?

People actually from France are really bitchy not all but most and I said MOST are really rude.

I think the french are more dry and sarcastic than actually funny. That's just my experience, though.

Anyone who says they have a sense of humour has obviously never watched french comedies. I'll stick to Monty Python and Laurel & Hardy.

Everyone has a sense of humour just because it's differen to your don't mean it's none existent.

There's definitely some humour in the Banlieue 13 (District 13) series of films.

Right at the beginning of the second one, the undercover good cop from the previous film is seen working as an exotic dancer with a skirt that shows his bare bum, but you don't see it's him right away.

That scene is BLOODY funny!

French cinema is not all snobby and arthouse. The B13/D13 series is action with a lot of great commentary on French society and how immigrants are treated with a load of awesome parkour and set with Maghreb hip-hop in the background.

From limited personal observation, immigrants/children of immigrants/third generation immigrants and so on have much more of a sense of humour than the white ones. It might be crass and unsubtle sometimes, but it is most definitely there!

I've lived in Lyon for 4-5 months, if you're wondering where it comes from.

mdr...

Yes.
American humour is complete shit.

I had a French college student live with me for six months. Let's see now. The boy was gorgeous, funny, intelligent. And completely capable of understanding subtle humor. We had George Bush for president at the time. He laughed and laughed.

Yep. And a crappy one it is!

Asterix