--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think Jack Nicholson in 'Chinatown' is…" description: "\"I think Jack Nicholson in 'Chinatown' is a very funny character, but I would never call that a comedy.\" — Ruben Fleischer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/ruben-fleischer-9958_character_i-think-jack-nicholson-in-chinatown-is-a_1211632.jpg" --- # I think Jack Nicholson in 'Chinatown' is a very funny… ![“I think Jack Nicholson in 'Chinatown' is a very funny character, but I would never call that a comedy.” quote by Ruben Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/ruben-fleischer-9958_character_i-think-jack-nicholson-in-chinatown-is-a_1211632.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/ruben-fleischer-9958_character_i-think-jack-nicholson-in-chinatown-is-a_1211632.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/ruben-fleischer-9958_character_i-think-jack-nicholson-in-chinatown-is-a_1211632.jpg) > “I think Jack Nicholson in 'Chinatown' is a very funny character, but I would never call that a comedy.” [Ruben Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-fleischer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character can be humorous without the work being a comedy, highlighting nuanced tone. **In simple terms:** Funny character, not a comedy. Key Takeaway Recognize humor beyond genre labels. Themes humor genre characterization Mood reflective analytical Type critical observational When to use this quote - movie reviews - character studies - scriptwriting Key Concepts film analysis tone perception Questions to Reflect On - How does humor function outside comedy? - What defines a comedic work? A Different Perspective Humor may be misread if genre expectations dominate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Funny character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-character/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) ## Related quotes > [I want to push that no matter what race you are, you're never just a sidekick or broken character. You're the main character, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-underwood/i-want-to-push-that-no-matter-what-race-you-are-you-re-never-just-a/) [Lexi Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-underwood/) > [“The life of every individual, viewed as a whole and in general, and when only its most significant features are emphasized, is really a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/the-life-of-every-individual-viewed-as-a-whole-and-in-general-and/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [When you do something unusual, the audience doesn't 100 percent know what you're up to in the beginning. And if you're doing a character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-daniels/when-you-do-something-unusual-the-audience-doesn-t-100-percent-know/) [Greg Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-daniels/) > [All the parts I get offered are character and comedy parts, and I probably wouldn't get them if I had a different face. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-crook/all-the-parts-i-get-offered-are-character-and-comedy-parts-and-i/) [Mackenzie Crook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-crook/) > [The life of every individual is really always a tragedy, but gone through in detail, it has the character of a comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/the-life-of-every-individual-is-really-always-a-tragedy-but-gone/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [I'm starting to play lots more naturalistic, realistic people than when I first started. Maybe because I was doing character comedy shows, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lolly-adefope/i-m-starting-to-play-lots-more-naturalistic-realistic-people-than/) [Lolly Adefope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lolly-adefope/) > [“I think a character in a comedy should not know they're in a comedy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/i-think-a-character-in-a-comedy-should-not-know-they-re-in-a-comedy/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [The most difficult character in comedy is that of the fool, and he must be no simpleton that plays that part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/the-most-difficult-character-in-comedy-is-that-of-the-fool-and-he/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > ['Sightseers' started off as a character comedy double act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-lowe/sightseers-started-off-as-a-character-comedy-double-act/) [Alice Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-lowe/) > [Comedy is a way of hiding - especially character comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/comedy-is-a-way-of-hiding-especially-character-comedy/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [The cleverest character in comedy is the clown, for he who would make people take him for a fool, must not be one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-cleverest-character-in-comedy-is-the-clown-for-he-who-would-make/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no character in the comedy of human life more difficult to play well than that of an old bachelor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-is-no-character-in-the-comedy-of-human-life-more-difficult-to/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [I'm not playing a fixed character on 'Comedy Nights Live;' in fact I would be seen portraying various characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashami-desai/i-m-not-playing-a-fixed-character-on-comedy-nights-live-in-fact-i/) [Rashami Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashami-desai/) > [To be simple is the best thing in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/to-be-simple-is-the-best-thing-in-the-world/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [All I want to do is write songs about funny characters I made up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-borland/all-i-want-to-do-is-write-songs-about-funny-characters-i-made-up/) [Wes Borland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-borland/) ## More by Ruben Fleischer > [My first time out of the gate, I made three movies in four years, and they were all very back to back to back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-fleischer/my-first-time-out-of-the-gate-i-made-three-movies-in-four-years-and/) [Ruben Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-fleischer/) > [Like, I've worked on movies where you go in every day and you know that what you're shooting isn't very good to start with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-fleischer/like-i-ve-worked-on-movies-where-you-go-in-every-day-and-you-know/) [Ruben Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-fleischer/) > [I think any opportunity you can to employ some visual technique, go for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-fleischer/i-think-any-opportunity-you-can-to-employ-some-visual-technique-go/) [Ruben Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-fleischer/) > [I haven't done a movie without a member of the original cast of 'Zombieland' - they've all been in every movie I've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-fleischer/i-haven-t-done-a-movie-without-a-member-of-the-original-cast-of/) [Ruben Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-fleischer/) > [I think we can all agree it would be pretty amazing to see Spider-Man and Venom face off in a film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-fleischer/i-think-we-can-all-agree-it-would-be-pretty-amazing-to-see-spider-man/) [Ruben Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-fleischer/) > [Bill Murray, we've got to get people worthy to be on the screen with him, as opposed to just a bunch of random... with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-fleischer/bill-murray-we-ve-got-to-get-people-worthy-to-be-on-the-screen-with/) [Ruben Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-fleischer/) > [You know, the comedic and horror thing was the key to 'Zombieland,' which is a comedy first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-fleischer/you-know-the-comedic-and-horror-thing-was-the-key-to-zombieland-which/) [Ruben Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-fleischer/) > [Venom,' we worked all the way up until the release. It was one of the latest things you could possibly push the schedule to.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-fleischer/venom-we-worked-all-the-way-up-until-the-release-it-was-one-of-the/) [Ruben Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-fleischer/) > [Yeah, I love 'Boardwalk Empire.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-fleischer/yeah-i-love-boardwalk-empire/) [Ruben Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-fleischer/) > [He's an American treasure, I would be honored to fight Tom Hanks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-fleischer/he-s-an-american-treasure-i-would-be-honored-to-fight-tom-hanks/) [Ruben Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-fleischer/) > [My first job in Hollywood was as a PA in the writers room of 'Dawson's Creek,' and from that early experience on, I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-fleischer/my-first-job-in-hollywood-was-as-a-pa-in-the-writers-room-of-dawson-s/) [Ruben Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-fleischer/) > [Yeah, I feel lucky to have the opportunity to try different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-fleischer/yeah-i-feel-lucky-to-have-the-opportunity-to-try-different-things/) [Ruben Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-fleischer/) > [I work really hard and have rolled up my sleeves for a long time to get the opportunities I've had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-fleischer/i-work-really-hard-and-have-rolled-up-my-sleeves-for-a-long-time-to/) [Ruben Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-fleischer/) > [I've got to give a lot of credit to my cinematographer, Chung-hoon Chung, who is a master and among other things shot 'Old Boy,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-fleischer/i-ve-got-to-give-a-lot-of-credit-to-my-cinematographer-chung-hoon/) [Ruben Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-fleischer/) > [I basically went from finishing 'Venom.' I had a week off with my family. And then went straight into prep on 'Zombieland 2.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-fleischer/i-basically-went-from-finishing-venom-i-had-a-week-off-with-my-family/) [Ruben Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-fleischer/) [Explore all 69 Ruben Fleischer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-fleischer/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think Jack Nicholson in 'Chinatown' is a very funny character, but I would never call that a comedy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ruben Fleischer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-fleischer/i-think-jack-nicholson-in-chinatown-is-a-very-funny-character-but-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-fleischer/i-think-jack-nicholson-in-chinatown-is-a-very-funny-character-but-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/ruben-fleischer-9958_character_i-think-jack-nicholson-in-chinatown-is-a_1211632.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/ruben-fleischer-9958_character_i-think-jack-nicholson-in-chinatown-is-a_1211632.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/ruben-fleischer-9958_character_i-think-jack-nicholson-in-chinatown-is-a_1211632.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think Jack Nicholson in 'Chinatown' is a very funny character, but I would never call that a comedy.” — Ruben Fleischer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ruben Fleischer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-fleischer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think Jack Nicholson in 'Chinatown'...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-fleischer/i-think-jack-nicholson-in-chinatown-is-a-very-funny-character-but-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-fleischer/i-think-jack-nicholson-in-chinatown-is-a-very-funny-character-but-i/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```