Style of comedy and characterizations thumb|right|Laurel and Hardy in The Lucky Dog (1921) The humor of Laurel and Hardy was highly visual, with slapstick used for emphasis. They often had physical arguments (in character) which were quite complex and involved a cartoonish style of violence. Their ineptitude and misfortune precluded them from making any real progress, even in the simplest endeavors. Much of their comedy involves "milking" a joke, where a simple idea provides a basis for multiple, ongoing gags without following a defined narrative.
style of comedy and characterizations thumb|right|laurel and hardy in the lucky dog (1921) the humor of laurel and hardy was highly visual with slapstick used for emphasis they often had physical arguments (in character) which were quite complex and involved a cartoonish style of violence their ineptitude and misfortune precluded them from making any real progress even in the simplest endeavors much of their comedy involves "milking" a joke where a simple idea provides a basis for multiple ongoing gags without following a defined narrative