Whenever I see this movie, I think of iSm when I think of Hooper. Just saying. Tell me Steve's not Hooper.
Again, Spielberg uses humor to keep the story plodding along. The movie could have been quite dull at this point. But by keeping us laughing and liking people he keeps our interest in the story going. It's a gruesome story peppered with a lot of humor. It's nice, actually. This happens in
Poltergeist too. Scary story, funny people.