Gold Standard: Oscar Watch: What’s funnier? The Hollywood Foreign Press or ‘The Martian’?

'The Martian' will compete as a comedy at Golden Globes

Since word got out that Ridley Scott's sci-fi survival tale "The Martian" will be competing in the Golden Globes' comedy/musical categories, there has been a fair amount of weeping and gnashing of teeth over what is classified in awards circles as category fraud.  

"A comedy's a film whose #1 goal is to make people laugh," Paul Feig, who knows a thing or two about the genre, tweeted. "If that wasn't the filmmakers' top goal, it's not a comedy."

I'd give that tweet an "amen." Unfortunately, though, the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. has never abided by that sentiment.

Here's a list of Golden Globe-nominated comedies from just the last three years that aren't as funny as "The Martian": "Pride," "St. Vincent," "Birdman," "American Hustle," "Salmon Fishing in Yemen" and (involuntary shudder) "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel."

"When I started on 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' that was always the question: Is it a comedy or is it a drama?'" "Martian" screenwriter Drew Goddard told me at the Governors Awards on Saturday night. "These days, it's almost impossible to classify a lot of things. I mean, I never would have considered 'Birdman' a comedy."

At that moment, director Scott ambled over. Told that his movie would be competing in the Globes' comedy/musical category, he paused, took in the news and asked, "You mean we're up against movies like 'Ted'?"

Well, yes, "The Martian" might be in facing "Ted 2." Probably more likely "Trainwreck" or Feig's "Spy."

Scott responded with the only appropriate response when the subject is the Golden Globes: He laughed out loud and raised his hands, palms up, making the universal "what are you going to do?" gesture.

Gripe all you want. But save the shock and outrage for a group that didn't consider "The Tourist" to be a laugh riot.