Are Some Comic Stars Getting Too Old to Play Man-Children?
One of the most common characters for comedians to play is the man-child. They can’t get enough of playing characters who often act like 5-year-olds, have the emotional development of a teenager, and act up in various goofy ways. Many a comic star has broken out playing uneducated, dimwitted, arrested development types. But for many of them, it is starting to become apparent that they might be getting old in the tooth to play goofballs. When comedians are in their 20s and 30s, it makes more sense to play man-children and young adults who haven’t grown up. They are in a position to still be funny and fresh, and remind audience members of people they know who are goofier as they get older. The whole of Judd Apatow’s comic factory consists of young people, and slightly older ones, who have to learn to grow up and act their age. In those plots, it makes more sense that someone in their 20’s and 30’s could be like that. However, when they continue to act up into their 40’s, it starts to mak
