What I'm Watching #33

sitcom
Originally uploaded by Randuwa.

Beware, the quote on the box says it all: "...an infectiously silly dark comedy." Or does it? It certainly has its silly moments; and a fair share of darkness. However, infectious....hmmm, well, that bug didn't bite me. And this brings us to the word "Comedy."

Merriam-Webster defines the word this way:
Main Entry: com·e·dy
Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin comoedia, from Latin, drama with a happy ending, from Greek kOmOidia, from kOmos revel + aeidein to sing; related to ODE
1 a : a medieval narrative that ends happily "Dante's Divine Comedy" b : a literary work written in a comic style or treating a comic theme
2 a : a drama of light and amusing character and typically with a happy ending b : the genre of dramatic literature dealing with the comic or with the serious in a light or satirical manner
3 : a ludicrous or farcical event or series of events "a comedy of errors"
4 a : the comic element b : humorous entertainment

Strike definition one, obviously. And number two doesn't quite fit, either. But wait, ah, definition three. That's it (with apologies to Shakespeare)!

So, it is a comedy! It's just not that funny. Which isn't the same thing as not worth watching. I did enjoy it, but not for any easily definable reasons. It's not an easy to define movie -- but then again, it is French. Evelyn Dandry was delightful as the mother. And the reason that I bought the film in the first place, Stephen Rideau, did a fine job in a lesser role, and demonstrated that he can sport a leather harness quite well!

So, if you want to spend an hour and twenty minutes completely distracted from the events of your life in a way that will defy the conventions that you understand as comedic? In a word: SITCOM.