Laugh: From Laugh-out Loud to Dry and Understated

Tremors – An Upper Class Satire as One Gay Family Man is Outed

Tremors Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

Unfortunately Tremors carries the same name as a much more famous B-movie monster film from Hollywood. However, whilst they’re vastly different, they do share one thing in common: they’re both tongue-in-cheek comedies. Instead of laughing at the absurd huge worm like monsters in the 1990’s American version, you can laugh at the absurd response to the outing of a closeted gay man embedded in an upper class family life in Guatemala. It’s fun watching their stiff upper lips curl in long periods melodramatic weeping. The extremist gay conversion therapy that Pablo’s devout catholic family force him to attend to keep them together takes the satire to another level. All we can do is enjoy the levels the family goes to in order to hide their shame. Pablo’s out-and-proud lover is the only sane person in the film and watches Pablo’s family bewildered like us as it slowly disintegrates.

From: Guatemala, North America
Watch: Trailer, IMDb, JustWatch
Next: Dakan, Jose, I Am Not A Witch

The Magic Gloves – A Deadpan Look at Everyday Lives

The Magic Gloves Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

If you’re a fan of deadpan humor, look no further. In The Magic Gloves, Martin Rejtman takes the mundane, everyday meetings and conversations that plague our lives and turns them into something to laugh at. There’s nothing special about any of the characters, they’re all regular people like us passing through life without much happening. They also don’t seem to be in control of what’s going on. Life just happens to them and they’re happy to follow where it leads them. When things do happen and their lives look like their going to turn into a success, their luck is quickly balanced out to humble them. But the film never feels heavy or depressing to watch as it makes fun of the trivialities and coincidences we give importance to in our lives. After all nothing really matters.

From: Argentina, South America
Watch: Trailer, JustWatch
Next: Whisky, Rapado, Barking Dogs Never Bite

Underground – A Madcap Satire of 50 years of Yugoslav History

Underground Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

Why Watch Underground?

For a crazy Yugoslav history lesson
If you’re a fan of eccentric comedy – also found in Italian films, Luis Estrada satires, and Monty Python
If you like a good old Brass Band

From: Serbia, Europe
Watch: Trailer, JustWatch, Mubi
Next: Dear Diary, Cosy Dens, The Marriage of Maria Braun

A Chinese Odyssey – Pure Cinematic Mayhem

A Chinese Odyssey Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

I haven’t read Journey to the West and I’m completely unfamiliar with the story line, so I can’t vouch for the accuracy of this adaptation of the Chinese Classic. However, if you’re looking for pure cinematic mayhem, Chinese Odyssey Part One and Part Two are as good as you get.

From: Hong Kong, Asia
Watch: Trailer, Tubi, Vudu, Buy on Amazon
Next: Life of Brian, Star Wars, Kung Fu Hustle

Read The Full Review

Rams – Lock Horns with this Icelandic Sibling Rivalry

Rams Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

Brothers. If you have one you’ll appreciate the sibling rivalry in this Icelandic farmer dry comedy film. Ram’s has got two that hate each other. It’s all because they are both trying to be the best at breeding rams in a very unpopulated valley. There’s only room for one of them. But when serpie (a livestock disease) threatens both their herds, can they come together to keep their heritage alive?

From: Iceland, Europe
Watch: Trailer, Rent on Amazon, Buy on Amazon
Next: Toni Erdmann, The Square, The Orator