Believe it or not, it wasn't all that long ago when audiences flocked to cinemas in search of a good laugh. But in the past decade, comedies, at least the big-screen variety, have nearly disappeared.

Vince Vaughn believes Hollywood execs are too cautious nowadays when it comes to financing the type of R-rated comedies that launched his career. Vaughn — known for comedy films such as “Swingers,” ...