Christopher Lawrence

You know that comedy technique where writers and directors take a joke that’s sort of funny, let it linger until it becomes just mildly amusing, step back while it festers so that it becomes painfully awkward and loses every bit of its appeal before they stretch it so far that it ends up being hilarious?

Feel like you’ve missed most of the nine films nominated for best picture at next weekend’s Oscars? That’s understandable, unless you’ve had plenty of time on your hands since Thanksgiving.

If you’re having trouble relating to the jubilation surrounding this weekend’s release of “Black Panther” — the first major comic book movie starring a predominantly black cast — imagine for a moment that we weren’t living in an era in which every couple of months produced a superhero blockbuster starring a white guy named Chris.

The superhero adventure is an important movie that doesn’t feel like being forced to eat kale, thanks to car chases, shootouts and subtle bursts of humor.

Not only is “Fifty Shades Freed” expected to spank the competition at this weekend’s box office, it will tie up the loose ends on an era of moviemaking.

I’m not certain if “Fifty Shades Freed” is marginally better than its predecessors, or if I’ve just grown accustomed to the awfulness of these movies.

The 14th installment of the annual fest will take place Thursday through Sunday.