There's a particularity to Irish dark comedies that make them distinctly enjoyable, from their unabashed chronicling of ordinary - even criminal - people's lives, to their unapologetic exposure of the absurdity in the things their protagonists value most. It's the no-holds-barred approach, where everything is mocked and no one is safe, that makes them unique, and their cynicism (blended with satire) creates a refreshing type of humor.
There are hopeful losers. There are proud unwed mothers. There are soulful hit men. There are disgruntled cops. They live in cities, and they live in small towns, and they all get swept up in often ridiculous circumstances. It's not uncommon to find more dramatic themes in Irish dark comedies than is typical of the genre, but their inherent camaraderie, stubbornness, and violence reveal hysterical truths about life, love, and friendship.
A Film With Me In It (6.7)
After an accident involving a corpse, two neighbors, Mark (Mark Doherty) a penniless actor and Pierce (Dylan Moran) a failed screenwriter, set out to create a winning movie together. However, life starts imitating art and soon the two men are surrounded by corpses left and right.
While dodging the police, landlords, angry spouses, and domestic responsibilities, the lovable losers try to realize their dreams while continuously besotted by gruesome situations. The content may seem absurd at times, but A Film With Me In It is pulled together by the lovably inept chemistry of the two leads, and the fun cameos from prominent Irish talent, including director Neil Jordan and actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers.
Intermission (6.8)
When Dubliner John (Cillian Murphy) wants a break from his girlfriend (Kelly Macdonald), he never expects that she's going to immediately start dating again, much less a successful banker. He decides to team up with a petty thief (Colin Farrell) and rob the bank, but they'll have to outsmart the local detective (Colm Meaney) whose perspicacity threatens their heist at every turn.
A rousing Dublin caper full of sparkling talent from all the leads, Intermission is a jaded, violent, and cynical movie that serves up that particular morose wit Irish comedies are known for.
I Went Down (6.9)
Git Hynes (Peter McDonald) is fortunate for two reasons; he's just gotten out of jail, and he happens to arrive just as his best friend Anto (David Wilmot) is being attacked by thugs collecting a debt. Git is able to help his friend but accidentally ends up wounding a Dublin kingpin's nephew, requiring punishment. Git decides to work for the kingpin as a way of making amends and is paired with a notorious hood (Brendan Gleeson) on a job that requires finesse.
I Went Down will remind viewers of great British dark comedies like Lock, Stock, And Two Smoking Barrels, where dialogue is as important and engaging to follow as the action surrounding it, and colorful characters subvert typical gangster tropes.
The Young Offenders (7.1)
A breakout recent addition to the slate of Irish comedies, The Younger Offenders is inspired by the true story of the biggest cocaine seizure in Ireland's history in 2007, Operation Seabight. Part crime caper, part road-trip movie, it focuses on best pals Jock and Conor, two Cork boys with dismal home lives who capitalize on a drug trafficking vessel that capsizes off the coast.
While dozens of cocaine bales are recovered, worth over a hundred million dollars, there's one bale missing, and the two lads set out on bikes to find it and turn the tides of their fortunes. The bond of friendship keeps this film together amidst the laughs, the danger, and the narrow escapes.
Waking Ned Devine (7.3)
It's a big day when a small Irish village finds out it has a lottery winner in its midst, with the news inspiring best pals Jackie O'Shea (Ian Bannen) and Michael O'Sullivan (David Kelly) to track the man down and see if he'll share his wealth. They come to find that lucky Ned Devine is dead from shock, and immediately devise a way to get rid of the body and collect the cash.
The entire town comes together to convince the arriving claim inspector that O'Sullivan is the real Ned Devine, with the understanding that he'll then split the prize with all of them. As morbid as Waking Ned Devine can be, the merry mischief inherent to the plan and the warm friendships between the townsfolk make it truly a celebration of life and finding solace in losing a loved one.
The Snapper (7.3)
Often called one of Ireland's most quoted movies, and the second in Roddy Doyle's trilogy set in Barrytown, this raucous comedy pokes fun at staunch Roman Catholic values and features one of the most beloved typical Irish families of all time; the Curleys. Young Sharon Curley (Tina Kellegher) navigates the sudden scrutiny of her small town when she becomes pregnant after a one night stand, and doesn't divulge the name of the father even to her parents (played by the always welcome Ruth McCabe and Colm Meaney).
When the ne'er-do-well father is finally revealed, there are even more layers of embarrassment for Sharon and her family, but in typical Irish fashion, family and community don't give up on finding ways to make the situation right.
The Guard (7.3)
Crude and rude Sergeant Gerry Boyle (Brendan Gleeson) has a pretty good thing going in the Garda, Ireland's police force. He lives in the idyllic port town of Galway, drinks on the job, watches television, and doesn't generally have many pressing matters to divert his attention. All of this changes when an international drug smuggling ring makes its way to Galway Bay.
Enter FBI Agent Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle), a no-nonsense by-the-book operative who gets paired with Boyle to crack the case, much to the beefy Irishman's chagrin. Part fish out of water story, part buddy cop movie, The Guard manages to be hilarious without shying away from discussions of topics like race and diversity, which it manages to have with heart and poignancy.
Inside I'm Dancing (7.8)
Starring James McAvoy, this modern dark comedy (which also premiered under the title Rory O'Shea Was Here) takes place at a home for the disabled in Dublin, where a young man named Rory O'Shea (McAvoy) arrives in a wheelchair and is eternally carefree, in high contrast to longtime resident Michael Connolly (Steven Robertson), his peer who has depression.
Eventually, the two men become a team of wild hellions, unstoppable in their lust for life. Their pursuit of friendship, and eventually getting an apartment together in spite of their disabilities, is as commendable as it is hilarious.
Sing Street (7.9)
Dublin in the '80s and a soundtrack filled with Duran Duran is the backdrop for this romp about first love, first bands, and first steps towards independence. It centers on Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo), a sensitive teen whose parents have moved him from his fancy private school to a rougher public school for financial reasons, where he's bullied every day and the learning environment isn't much better than his hostile home life.
Eventually, he meets Raphina (Lucy Boynton), an enigmatic girl he hopes to impress by telling her that he's in a band, but knows he'll need to actually make one if he's ever going to secure her affections. Some things work out the way Conor hopes, and some things don't, and reconciling love and loss with resiliency is the only way he'll grow up.
In Bruges (7.9)
Endlessly quotable, witty, and sprinkled with plenty of action, it's no wonder that In Bruges has become one of the best Irish comedies of the '00s. Much of its charm also lies with its two protagonists, hit men Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) who have a crackling onscreen chemistry despite their very different perspectives.
After their latest job has a dismal ending, the pair hide out in Bruges, Belgium to lay low, encountering tourists and local traditions that change their lives in the enchanting medieval city they find themselves calling home.