Punching up is a valuable rule of thumb for comedians. When it comes to film and TV, however, few would insist on a blanket rule that all gags should be directed towards people of higher status than the joke-makers. Doing so would rob us of some brilliant comic characters, including the greatest of all time: Charlie Chaplin as the Tramp.
It would also expunge from existence Johnny “Spit” Spitieri, the bleary-eyed criminal and former heroin addict hilariously played by David Wenham, first in the 2003 Australian film Gettin’ Square and now in his very own spin-off. This enjoyably low-key affair has occasional laugh-out-loud moments, including one that takes place in a courtroom – like Gettin‘ Square’s funniest scene – where old mate Spit tests everybody’s patience by trying on a series of reading glasses.
