Double-take

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For the TV show, see Doubletake (TV show). For the film, see Double Take (film).

A double-take is a comedy convention in which a character will look at something, but not react to the visual stimulus immediately. The response—often fear, anger or surprise, but on occasion delight—takes several seconds to occur, at which time the character will look back at the thing in question (or perhaps run back into a room after exiting) and deliver a reaction (often exaggerated for humorous effect).

Other Uses

The term "Double-Take" has also been used more recently to describe scenes in a movie sequel, prequel, or midquel that are similar to or based on scenes in the original movie, most likely in an effort to capture the charm or impact of the original movie. It was first used in this way to describe scenes in Disney features such as Bambi II and , both of which have them in abundance. It was first used on Scamp's Adventure, but so far Bambi 2 holds the record for sheer number catalogued at a count of 17, with Scamp's Adventure coming in close second at 16.

According to the teenager who first began to spread this usage of the term "double-take," "It started when I was watching Scamp's Adventure and noticed the similarity between the gates (see the Double-Takes section on Lady and The Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure using the above link for details)." He adds with a bit of a chuckle that, "I decided to call such scenes "Double Takes" because when I first saw it made me do a double-take."

For clarification purposes, a flashback or other scene using actual recycled footage is not a double-take per se. Double-Takes generally serve as an echo of the original movie, presumably to provide continuity and hopefully recapture the charm of the original.

Movies With Double-Takes

Bambi II

The Lion King 1 1/2

Double-take

Other Uses

Movies With Double-Takes

See also