Thanks for speaking truth (as I see it as well), Michael. And Susan and Chris.
It's also true that these days an awful lot of people are seriously in need of comic relief. Some laugh more readily than others, and for a great variety of reasons (no just alcohol!). Humor seems to me to be highly individualistic. Go to a genuinely ironic and subtle film like the beautiful and witty Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, and see how different parts of the audience laugh at different lines or faces or gestures. The Kristin Scott-Thomas character is wildly irreverent and hilarious, but I find the Ewan McGregor character's humor more deep and satisfying--yet most the time the rest of the audience doesn't let out so much as a giggle at his ironies. I can't recommend this film enough! And Emily Blunt is the best I've ever seen her, as well. Lasse Hallstrom directed, who did Ciderhouse Rules. And as good as the latter was, it is nothing compared to this latest effort.
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