I am working on a comedy script along the lines of Bridesmaids and I have a character who is checking out someone's butt and for some reason, I'm struggling with what synonym of butt to use. If I think it's gonna be an R rated movie do I use ass? Do I use butt or behind? I know I'm making this harder than it has to be but for some reason, this is just screwing with me. Any suggestions?
1 person likes this
Tuchus always get a laugh, but implies some Jewish connection. Tushie might be useful, as it is both funny and twee.
Rear, rear end, rump, back side, derriere, keister, fanny, gluteus maximus?
I don't think ass will make it R rated, besides, your character should be using their own word. What best suits your character?
Write what you think is funniest. If Bridesmaids is your example, that's R...I'd go with ass.
1 person likes this
buttious-maximus
1 person likes this
I think it depends on the character's personality. What would SHE say? Is she usually vulgar, polite, reserved..etc?
Thom, my neighbor's son just married her... a nice Italian girl.
like Christine pointed out, her personality would tell you what word expression to use. If she's a smart nerd type: gluteus Maximus! If vulgar: Arse (in a British accent) if she's proper: derriere or fanny.
I have a mate that carries a bit of weight. Someone teased him about having a big butt. He said, “You can’t hammer in a huge nail with a tack mallet”. I don’t know if that triggers anything amusing.
1 person likes this
I was advised a while ago that there is actually a trifecta you would have to meet in order to get a studio buy in for an R rating. The film must include 3 of the following : violence, strong language, nudity, gore. if you don't have 3 of those it will be hard to get that R rating to cover you. If you only have casual language like "ass" it might qualify for a PG 13 rating but if there's a lot of strong language it will bump it out of that category and they will be looking for the trifecta to get an R rating. "A motion picture’s single use of one of the harsher sexually-derived words, though only as an expletive, initially requires at least a PG-13 rating. More than one such expletive requires an R rating, as must even one of those words used in a sexual context." hope this helps!
1 person likes this
If you're going for comedy than you could also look at other slang for "ass". Like "ba-donka-donk". I remember a time when people used that to refer to butts. In the case of comedy though, using some kind of off-kilter slang would likely be a better way of getting laughs. Another fine example of this is the running gag in the Austin Powers movies about male genitalia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpiP_jN1Pv4
2 people like this
Best thing I can say is make it true to the character. How does that character talk? The terms they use would have to be in line with their voice.
1 person likes this
The term is called a euphemism. Takes offensive words or phrases and dulls them down.
2 people like this
behold a rear porch worthy of a sculptor
1 person likes this
Thanks everyone! Made a lot of sense in making the language true to the character and given that, I went with ass. Knew I could get answers from you guys! Thanks again!