DbcultAccessing Vault...
4.5/10
Archivist John
Senior Editor
A definitive 4.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. A Laugh or Two remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Look, if you're expecting big-budget belly laughs or anything remotely slick, steer clear of A Laugh or Two. But if you're into those awkward, almost-uncomfortable kind of comedies that feel like a friend's weird home video, you might just find something here. Folks who need every joke to land perfectly will likely spend the whole runtime rolling their eyes, so consider yourself warned. It's definitely not for everyone, but there's a certain charm for the right crowd. 🤷♀️
The film follows Leo, a stand-up comic who just can't quite get it right. His bits are usually met with crickets, or worse, confused stares. The whole movie feels like watching someone try *really* hard, and that's where its peculiar brand of humor lives.
There's this one scene where Leo tries out a new bit about a talking toaster. It goes on about 20 seconds too long, and the silence from the tiny club audience starts to feel awkward rather than emotional. You can almost feel the movie trying to convince you this moment matters, but it just hangs there, limp. It’s a bold choice, I guess.
Later, he has this bizarre interaction with a coffee shop barista. The barista, who has maybe three lines in the entire film, just *nails* this look of utter disbelief and weariness. It's such a small thing, easy to overlook, but it was probably my favorite acting moment. That poor barista deserved an Oscar for that one face. ☕
The crowd scenes, especially in the comedy clubs, have this oddly empty feeling. Like half the extras wandered off for a snack break and never came back. It adds to Leo's general sense of isolation, I suppose, but it also just feels a bit… underpopulated.
One reaction shot from Leo’s perpetually unimpressed landlord lingers so long it becomes funny. Like, *why* are we still looking at her? What more can she convey? And then, suddenly, it’s hilarious. It’s a testament to how sometimes, doing nothing is the funniest thing you can do.
The movie gets noticeably better once it stops taking itself seriously. There’s a stretch in the middle where Leo just sort of gives up on traditional jokes and starts narrating his mundane life in a deadpan voice. Those bits, where he’s just observing a pigeon or complaining about a squeaky floorboard, are surprisingly endearing. They feel less forced, more real.
You know, there’s a recurring gag about a misplaced rubber chicken. It shows up in the background of three different scenes, each time in a more ridiculous spot. At first, I thought it was just set dressing, but by the third appearance, I was actively looking for it. It’s a silly, almost childish running gag, but it works better than some of the more elaborate setups.
Some of the dialogue felt a bit… *stiff*. Like they wrote it down and then everyone just read it, without much natural flow. Especially when Leo is trying to explain his 'philosophy' on comedy to his long-suffering friend. It felt less like a conversation and more like a lecture. 😴
And honestly, the ending? It just kind of… stops. There’s no big crescendo, no sudden epiphany for Leo. He’s just there, doing another open mic night, and the film cuts. It felt a little abrupt, like they ran out of film or something. But then again, maybe that's the point? Life doesn't always have a neat conclusion. Comedians don't always become superstars overnight.
This movie isn't going to change your life, or even redefine comedy. It's just a strange little film that asks you to find humor in the awkward pauses and the quiet failures. It’s less about a laugh *with* the characters and more about a laugh *at* the situation. Or perhaps, just a quiet chuckle to yourself. It has moments, for sure. 🤷
IMDb 4.8
1920
Community
Log in to comment.
