mizasparkles

I think that, in terms of "required elements", slapstick only really needs exaggeration and make-believe in order to qualify as slapstick. As far as physical and violent, verbal slapstick (such as the infamous quips of Groucho Marx) is very much a thing--though the argument can be made that verbal abuse is violent in and of itself. I feel that "ritualistic" is a misnomer here, and "formulaic" may be a better choice. But even so, that's not a required element in my opinion. It's the exaggeration and make believe aspects that separate slapstick from outright violence and cruelty. The sound e

I think it is the simplicity of this that distinguishes it as comedic rather than cruel. There's no context for these characters, and no room in which to feel bad for one or the other. We just enjoy what is objectively a funny moment.