On the positive side, lacklustre comedies might send moviegoers outdoors this summer

If one needed any indication other than the warming weather that summer is beginning, look no further than the closest cinema. Once again, movie moguls are hoping to tempt patrons into air-conditioned theatres by offering the predictable mix of horror and comic book hero movies. If, as it is with me, neither of these options appeal to you, you may find yourself desperately hoping for something more uplifting. Perhaps, like me, you will only be disappointed.

So it was that I viewed the widely acclaimed LaRoy, Texas. Though touted as being a suspense movie with touches of comedy, it tells a decidedly dark tale of a group of what can only be described as losers. A film in the tradition of Fargo and No Country for Old Men, both of which explored the genre more successfully, LaRoy, Texas traces the journey of a man who has never amounted to much in life, whose wife is unfaithful, whose brother betrays him in a multitude of ways, and who vainly attempts to blunder his way out of the mess his life has become.

It does not help much that almost every other character in the film is equally a loser. I suppose one is meant to find humour in their obvious inadequacies. However, if this film is a comedy, it is a dark comedy replete with objectionable language. In fact, it is so dark literally that it is often difficult to discern who is who as the plot unfolds with bizarre and often puzzling twists – as well as a number of murders and other unsavoury matters.

I am not at all sure towns such as LaRoy, Texas, actually exist, even though they have become something of a cinematic cliché, or if their populations are such a lot of sad-sacks. I can give the film much credit for its atmosphere of foreboding, some clever exiting, and some clearly delineated characters, but it definitely portrays a town I do not want to visit. This was not the entertainment I was looking for!

I thought a comedy might be just the thing to lighten the rather fraught times in which we live. Attracted by what can only be described as a stellar cast, I decided to give Unfrosted a try.

I do not know what motivated such talented actors as Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Grant, Melissa McCarthy, and Peter Dinklage to sign up for this film, other than perhaps enormous pay cheques. In its attempt to make a farcical comedy (presumably meant to be satirical) based on the invention of Pop-Tarts, Unfrosted is sadly an abysmal failure. Indeed, it is one of the worst films I have seen over the last few years. Clumsy, silly, and relentlessly stupid, I could only endure about three-quarters of an hour of its inanities before abandoning it completely.

Since I am not in the mood for horror or comic book heroes, when summer fails to live up to its promise, I will simply revisit some of my favourite movies of past years – an action considerably helped by the various lists of “Best Movies” easily accessible on Google. So, probably until autumn, it’s back to the likes of The African Queen, All About Eve, The Sting, and Citizen Kane (the latter for well over the hundredth time) as I search for cinematic entertainment.

Thanks to streaming services, this is not only cheaper than outings to the theatre, but also certainly guaranteed to be entertaining. Even better, if this summer proves to be as lovely as we hope, I will just go out and enjoy the sunshine!

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