Screenwriting : 1 for the money, 2 for the laughs (Somnething like that) by Tony Ray

Organize a table read of your script with strangers. If they laugh, then you'll know.

Definitely have someone read it. Out loud if possible. You'll catch awkward dialogue and bad/good jokes at the same time.

Great question. Definitely have a peer or two give it a read and see if the jokes land. Generally, try doing a stand-up routine at an open mic and see if your style of humor resonates with the audience. The tougher the crowd the better :^}

Hey Tony Ray, everyone here is right, you have to get other eyes on it and a table read ideally. It's the same reason comedians test jokes at tons of shows before they include them in any comedy special - the only ones that make the cuts are those that performed well already.

That doesn't mean there aren't formulas and approaches that generally help with comedy and are worth studying.

Also keep your audience in mind as everyone's sensibilities are different and it's really hard to find something universally funny.

You could check your writing against tips for effective comedy. Steve Kaplan has books and does seminars. For a cheap way out, there are a lot of Kaplan youtube videos.

https://www.kaplancomedy.com/

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=steve+kaplan

I say, "trial by fire". Finish it. Edit. Enter 3 contests that provide feedback. If its funny, your feedback will say so and you could win some money. If not, nobody will see your "walk of shame" after you read your notes from the email.

Sure, you could pay a professional script consultant who specializes in comedy to give you pages upon pages of notes, telling you how to fix your script, but where's the fun in that?

For me, screenplay comedies should contain these three elements:

1. Sight gags

2. Situational comedy

3. Crisp, witty dialogue

This classic scene from Annie Hall contains all three. Woody also breaks the fourth wall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXJ8tKRlW3E

These are the elements I endeavor to deliver in my comedies.

Kaplan: "... Comedy is the art of stupid, futile, ridiculous- unattainable hope..."

Much like contemporary life. :)

... Yes, we must be able to 'relate'; in this case there is no difference between comedy or drama.