You Kill Me

I have trouble with what passes for comedy these days, which is why you'll note that I don't review many. As the commercial success of films like Borat confirms, what passes for comedy is - for the most part - stupid, mean spirited and in bad taste. So I have to admit to being positively giddy about this little gem of a film. With a smart screenplay, fine direction and a picture perfect cast - this is my idea of great comedy.

Frank Falenczyk (Sir Ben Kingsley!) is a hit man for a low level crime family out of Buffalo. He is also an alcoholic who's out of control consumption ultimately causes him to miss a crucial job. When he's sent to San Francisco to clean up his act, or else, he enters AA and starts the 12-step process with a vengeance. Are you following here? Just inserting an assassin into the culture of 12-step should have you giggling; he's so earnest at the podium trying to explain how his drinking has interfered with his work while the fellow addicts all nod in empathy. Add the romantic interest of Laurel (Tea Leone!) and his gay sponsor Tom (Luke Wilson!) and you have a delightful tale of redemption... well, of a sort. He really does love his work.

John Dahl artfully directs, but this cast of pros including Bill Pullman and Dennis Farina are so obviously enjoying themselves, how could this go wrong? Tea and Sir Ben, both masters of deadpan delivery, also manage a sweet chemistry. I hope these young writers (Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely) keep this kind of comedy flowing. We could all use this kind of laugh more often.... Check out the website here.