Is there an over-arcing term for this style of movie?
I am wondering if there is a label or term for the particular style of movie that provides just enough plot upon which to hang some specialty focused features.
The three top examples would be:
- Porn: Thin plot setting up detailed sex scenes.
- Musicals: Thin-to-medium plot to set up elaborate song and dance numbers.
- Kung Fu/Martial Arts: Basic plot to lead into extended combat ballets.
Best Answer
The term you may be looking for is "Excuse Plot". TV Tropes (obligatory warning: it's highly addictive!) describes the concept thusly:
An Excuse Plot is, in the simplest terms, a plot that is clearly there merely as a justification for the gameplay, or other form of flashy, show-offy-ness, to happen. [...] An Excuse Plot is not necessarily a poorly written, minimalistic, or stupid storyline, only one that has been written to obviously showcase something else.
The site mostly relates it to video games - "the princess has been kidnapped, go save her" - but I'd argue it works equally well for all the genres you've listed. There's even a specific sub-trope related to porn plots: Pizza Boy's Special Delivery.
Pictures about "Is there an over-arcing term for this style of movie?"
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Vitaliy Izonin, Andrea Piacquadio, Andrea Piacquadio, Andres Ayrton