LOS ANGELES — For Hollywood, the state of big-screen comedies has been so grim you almost have to laugh.

There are genres that have dominated the cineplex in recent years — special effects-heavy blockbusters, family films and scream-in-your-seat horror movies.

But comedies? Not so much after the COVID-19 pandemic.

A recent spate of theatrical funnies is trying to change that. This month, studios have released one comedy after another, starting with Paramount Pictures’ reboot of “The Naked Gun,” starring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson, and Walt Disney Co.’s more-than-20-years-later sequel “Freakier Friday,” which reunited Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan.

So far, “The Naked Gun” has grossed $73 million worldwide, while “Freakier Friday” brought in $86 million. Both received solid rev

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