Comfort and Joy (1984)

A VERY FUNNY AND TRAGIC FILM

Why is this movie not on DVD? The saga of Dickie Bird the heart-broken DJ and the warring Italian ice cream vendors is one of my all-time favorite films. Never was comedy and tragedy so well married. There is so much crap out there that's on DVD and this great film stays an obscure classic? I wish someone would release all of Forsyth's films. What about "That Sinking Feeling" or "Being Human"? Or "Housekeeping"? But not to have "Comfort And Joy" on DVD is truly a crime. July 18, 2008

Underrated Gem

Comfort and Joy is an underrated gem of a Christmas movie. Bill Paterson plays Alan "Dickie" Bird, a popular radio personality experiencing a mid-life crisis sparked by his girlfriend's unexpected departure (a marvelously written and realized scene). Feeling rather superficial, underused and overqualified professionally, Alan embarks on a journey of self-realization, culminating in his brokering a deal between two bickering ice cream truck families embroiled in a turf-war (what?). This gentle and charming film demonstrates writer/director Forsyth's penchant for quirky, subtle humour and for stories possessing much more meaning than one would realize upon first glance. Some favorite scenes (besides the aforementioned "break-up")include Alan's numerous tapings of radio commercials, the "Godfatheresque" meeting between Alan and the patriarch (and sons) of one of the feuding ice cream families, and an appointment with a therapist in dire need of therapy himself. A wonderful film, rivaling many of Forsyth's more well-known efforts, including Local Hero and Gregory's Girl. Purchase Comfort and Joy (hopefully released on DVD soon) for your Christmas film library. You won't be sorry. February 25, 2008

Christmas Isn't Christmas Without Ice Cream

Yes, an Ice Cream Mafia War. This is the high art that Bill Forsyth was so well-known for in the 1980s. Fabulous performances by all, as a DJ gets drawn into an ice cream war, helping him to get over heartache at the holidays. I don't believe CP Grogan as an Italian girl (nightmare accent when speaking Italian!), but she's gorgeous and they're all funny and it's worth it just to hear the partriarch say, "Mr. Bunny." September 13, 2005

Now on region 2 DVD

This brilliant film is now available from amazon.co.uk in region 2 encoding for less than seven pounds plus shipping, and includes a director's commentary track! October 10, 2004

Horribly underrated.

Comfort and Joy (Bill Forsyth, 1984)

It's kind of hard to describe the appeal of Bill Forsyth's fourth (yes, there was one before Gregory's Girl) feature film, Comfort and Joy, without sounding like a raving lunatic. Not that that's ever stopped me before. A popular radio DJ, Alan 'Dickie' Byrd (Bill Paterson [Foyle's War, Truly Madly Deeply]), has his girlfriend Maddy (Eleanor David [White Hunter Black Heart, he Wolves of Willoughby Chase]) move out on him a few days before Christmas. While trying to get over it, he spies a gorgeous woman in an ice cream truck and, on a whim, pursues her, and it, to the outskirts of town, where it's attacked by a band of masked robbers. One of them recognizes Alan, which gets him involved in a turf war between the rival ice cream vendors Mr. McCool and Mr. Bunny. Which results, of course, in everyone around him thinking he's utterly mad.

While it's not Forsyth's best work (that title is reserved for Housekeeping), Comfort and Joy is, well, a joy. Forsyth's use of visual tricks and sight gags makes for a wonderful experience, and as for the plot, well, what can be better than warring ice-cream factions? An overlooked gem that's begging for a DVD release. **** ½ September 7, 2004

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