Top 5 hilariously stupid characters of the 2000s
Sometimes, stupid humor is the best humor for fictional characters
In the world of entertainment, there seem to be characters who exist primarily to be made fun of. You know the ones. I’m talking about the people so stupid that you wonder how they even get dressed by themselves, so dumb that we burst out laughing nearly every time they open their mouths. Not all of these characters work, though.
As weird as it sounds, there’s an art to being stupid. Like with any role, the actors have to believe it and embrace it in order to sell it. They can’t constantly wink at the camera or be deliberately ironic about their stupidity. Likewise, the writers have to make their lines convincing.
Lacking these elements will likely cause a disconnect between the art and the audience, as we simply won’t believe the person onscreen is really dumb. This, in-turn, may make us feel insulted at the cheap laughs that the creators are trying to con out of us.
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This is why successful characters are worth celebrating, and that is exactly what this list is here to do. Let’s look back at some highlights of idiocy, those instances where we laugh at the character but laugh with the creators.
Sadly, the long history of entertainment has given us far too many morons to choose from. Making a list that encompasses them all would be practically inconceivable. For now, let’s narrow the scope (and our minds) to the past twenty years. You may think that limits the perspective too much, but don’t worry. The 2000s alone have given us some real winners. First, though, we have some honorable mentions:
Des – Republic of Doyle
Acting as the assistant in this fast and fun PI show, Des definitely has the dimwitted behavior and slapstick down. However, he proves himself capable of basic instructions, and he comes through for the Doyles on several occasions through his tech smarts and sleuthing. Because of that, it’s hard to classify him as “stupid” so much as “slow.”
Hugh Neutron – The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius
The father of the titular boy genius may appear to have two working brain cells, but keep in mind that we mainly see him in his off time. He seems relatively functional as a human being, knowing the essentials of being a homeowner, husband, and dad. His boneheaded nature only comes out with menial everyday tasks and interactions. That, and he’s very easily amused, especially when it comes to hobbies like his model duck collection. Basically, he’s more childish than stupid.
Jack Spicer – Xiaolin Showdown
In a show full of obnoxious heroes, it’s fitting that the most likable character is the main villain. Although Jack’s petty insults and drive to be the greatest evil genius ever are shortsighted and silly, he is smart enough to create an army of robots. You have to give that to him.