Citizen 16

Really, it’s funny.

It was something of a surprise to me just how funny it was because, aside from the general feeling from certain corners that Chris Morris has “gone shit now” there also seemed to be a move from certain people (I’m looking at you Kermode listeners) to not only claim that it isn’t very funny, but that there was something wrong with the people who did find it funny because they didn’t “understand” the emotional centre of the film.

Bollocks. To. That.

The other night I saw it for the second time and it’s still a great comedy film. One of the best I’ve seen in a good few years. Yes, there is a humanity to the film. Scenes – especially between the lead character’s family – are quite touching in a warped kind of way but they never stop being funny. They can be both. That’s how absurdest black comedy works. It’s kind of the point.

I think what’s happening is a general fear of being seen to find the subject matter too funny. “Oh, it’s brilliant and well researched,” these people seem to be saying, “but heaven’s no, I didn’t actually find it very funny. Perish the thought!”

Of course humour is an entirely subjective thing and maybe I’m just picking up on an elitist-Guardian vibe in these assessments and projecting. The thing is, subject matter aside, Four Lions is a pretty traditional comedy. The central relationship between Omar and Waj reminds me a lot of Ted and Dougal from Father Ted. Waj is the idiot (in fact borderline-retarded) manchild who trusts Omar completely; Omar thrives on this, coming across as the straight man in his own group but, when out in Pakistan, shows himself up to be just as foolish as the rest of them. Throw in a touch of Peep Show with its tendency to push the limits of what you can make jokes out of (unsurprising as it’s co-written by Peep Show creators Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong) and you’ve got a fair idea of what to expect.

Recommended.