I never understood where is the disconnect with you on this. Those "similar and same level things(same jokes)" in other movies aka adult content are meant to be in those movies and are geared toward adults, so when you go to a movie that is gear toward kids or the expectation of kids seeing the movie, those similar jokes should not be present, hence "the face palm reaction".
also a comedy is a comedy, action sci-fi / blockbuster is not comedy (some comedy is expected, SOME comedy)
Firstly, I very much don't agree with that last part. It enters into a realm where people start picking and choosing as they see fit. Next thing you know, the comedy quotient in avengers/thor 2 is now too high for a so called action movie, cause action movies are supposed to have the comedy quotient of TDKR and not one bit more. Picking and choosing.
The truth is, that there are no 'rules' to such things, and anyone that pretends there are is copping out of critical analysis. Did ID4 have 'too much comedy' for an 'action sci fi movie', did any of the indy or Pirates movies or is it different with adventure? Did that first ninja turtles? Who made these rules? Ghost busters is a sci fi movie so it better not have too much comedy, no wait, it's a comedy movie because it declared itself as one on the entry ballot. The fact is that this (tf)movie is based on a source material that is silly. I'd say the same thing about Heman. In that simple truth, the films are expected to be anything they want. Genre Blending happens, the quotients and percentages that work as rule are determined by no one. The films coming out of asian cinema are a master class on this.
Next someone will be saying the same thing about how much romance a 'non romance' film can have(given around 90% of films have some kinda romance), this someone might define a pure romance as a love story with no action(so no gone with the wind or war time stuff)..it's a messy thing to try and get into is the point.
I really just can't stand when people or critical establishments(a larger group of people) try to control artistic mediums in this way. Some artist is going to experiment and maybe do something outside of the convention, in this scenario, let's just say it's adding alot of comedic elements to an 'action/sci fi' film. Then like Jackson Pollack who's worse was shat on during the time, these people and their rules 'shun' it not given the product a fair or proper chance to shine and find it's audience. It really disturbs me. It's no doubt why Kubricks early films didn't get the praise they did till later, cause some 'group' and their dated line of thinking. Art can only grow when this stuff is given no power.
What's more, I'm very curious how this so called theory is going to apply to Guardians of the Galaxy, or has that film already filled out the proper ballots I wonder.
Secondly, as to your first point. I actually meant all the comedy in these tf films. Not simply the 'adult' gags. It's all the comedy that people claim is dumb and face palm inducing, are shia's parents being dumb and annoying again? face palm.
Speaking specifically towards the adult pot jokes and 'college girls trying to get in good with the prof' and sexuality. The film is pg13. Ignoring what that automatically dictates about expectations for people with brains that walk in. The jokes aren't actually too adult for kids as deemed by gov't associations based on that reason alone. Moreover, this isn't a close up on a male penis that has been bit by a spider, this isn't james franco ranting to mcbride about jerking off, it's parents having an awkward talk in innuendo. Beast wars and shows like that(including Reboot) had it's share of sexuality and substance abuse...kids aren't as young as we like to think.
What really loses me:
When people say they are 'offended' by the 'offensive' humor but then cop out. Like Simmons butt cheeks exposed causing this particular individual in the audience to tune out and 'be offended'. When ken jeuon runs around naked in hangover, this
same individual that was offended by the former is now what exactly? I thought he hated this kinda comedy, it's low, and unnecessary, unbecoming of an intelligent and clever filmmaker. Who knew all along that all this rants and ravings were all this time on behalf of "the innocent children" and not his own reaction to the film. Who knew.
What else has this person done this with? When he said he couldn't tell what was going on with the action, did he actually mean to speak for the old people in the theater that need glasses, or himself? Point being, speak for yourself when it comes to this stuff, not 'for the children' if something offends you then speak to that. Doing that other thing is fickle to no end.
I mean has that been the scape goat this entire time? The children and rating? A movie like horrible bosses with all it's racial jokes and stereotypes is fine but here african americans/asians acting silly, or the robots talking 'jive' it's officially offensive based on the fact that that one is an R movie and this one is 'for kids'? This is my argument about double standard. If people just spoke to the truth of the experience instead of trying to disguise things in talks of children and Ratings. If something is offensively racist or homophobic, have the guts to be consistent in that accusation. I say this to all the pundits and critics with what seems to be a double standard. It was when avengers had a close up all the way up paltrows back side(as an introduction) with not one mention of overt sexuality that I tuned out. It was one thing when every single bond movie did it but at this point, it's kinda clear what's happening. To me anyways.
Ironically, you would think this being 'for children' that these same people would be even more open to it being less intelligent and silly in story telling. But that's another matter.