I Won't Grow Up!: The Comic Man-Child in Film from 1901 to the Present - Paperback

by Anthony Balducci (Author)

A film archetype as old as film itself, the man-child has been an enduring comedy subject. Classics as diverse as Hail the Conquering Hero (1944) and The Apartment (1960) have used the immature male to drive plots and press the importance of growing up. But he was not born fully formed--it took the shifting social norms of decades to mold the atrocious behavior of the puerile buffoon we know today. The man-child has come under scrutiny in recent years. Prominent writers, including David Denby and A.O. Scott, have criticized the modern comedian behaving in shamelessly childish ways. This book provides a comprehensive examination of the character of the man-child, from Andre Deed, who debuted on screen in 1901, to Seth Rogen. The author discusses changing cultural attitudes about maturity, what it means to be an adult, what it means to be a child and how those things are becoming increasingly confused.

Author Biography

Anthony Balducci studied journalism at Baruch College and holds a University of Florida criminology degree. He has written three previous books and numerous articles on film comedy as well as online contributions to Feet of Mud, World Cinema Paradise and other websites. He lives in New Port Richey, Florida.