[Zigûr]

One thing I've noticed online is the attitude that a lot of the "visual humour" of the films (snot, belching, etc) is a substitute for the humour provided by the narrative voice in the novel. I wanted to look at three examples of humour just from the first chapter of the novel which I think don't demand a narrative voice and could have been equally funny in film form.

For example:
1. Dwalin has just barged into Bilbo's house.
"When the silence that followed had become uncomfortable, he added: 'I am just about to take some tea; pray come and have some with me.'"
This is a moment which I think could have been very amusing, with Dwalin and Bilbo hovering around in the hall not speaking for a humorously long amount of time. Martin Freeman is incredibly typecast in this kind of awkward, bemused role, after all. I think he could manage it.

2. Thorin's speech.
"If he had been allowed, he would probably have gone on like this until he was out of breath, without telling any one there anything that was not known already."
Of course this one is impossible within the context of the film because of their complete abandonment of Thorin's pomposity, which is a source of a good deal of humour in the book. I can imagine a closer-to-the-book Thorin delivering the "We are met to discuss our plans" speech in one long continuous politician-esque drone with the other Dwarves and Gandalf sitting around looking politely interested but increasingly stupefied as it goes on, before Bilbo interrupts of course.

3. Bilbo being "on his dignity."
"I had a great-great-grand-uncle once, Bullroarer Took, and - "
"Yes, yes, but that was long ago," said Gloin. "I was talking about you."
In the film this would be moot because Bilbo becomes outwardly frustrated and rude to the Dwarves far, far too early (when only Balin and Dwalin are there, in fact), but if it had been delayed (with him becoming increasingly flustered) only to have him finally stick up for himself just to have Glóin dismissively interrupt him, with Bilbo looking rather shocked, I think it could be a quite amusing subversion of audience's expectations regarding the hero shutting down his doubters.

I think these are the kind of elements which a director with some British comedy experience might be able to bring out in a hypothetical alternate Hobbit adaptation. There is a bit of a ripple effect of that here in the Colonies but it's not quite at the same standard. Personally I think the humour in The Hobbit is very British in general and in the right hands I think the existing comedy could have been very funny and perhaps even rather cutting.