Because the film is filled with painfully funny sequences and characters, pushing line of what can or should be considered a comedy.

But what characters or sequences in particular were funny to you?

It's tragicomedy, much like Shakespeare's comedies are not particularly comedy. And seriously, the last line of the film is hilarious.

But… how? I only see it as a tragedy, there aren’t many comedic elements

I remember this movie. If memory serves, it’s technically a dark comedy. And while it’s subject matter is pretty dark, it’s presented in a comedic manner.

Hoffman bemoaning his self-perception as a boring person while his psychiatrist struggles to stay awake, Harris' seduction technique, the following break-up exchange:

>"Is it someone else?"

>"No, it's you."

The film makes us squirm and cringe at the familiar of human behavior (selfishness, narcissism, ego) while gradually pushing situations and actions to the extreme.

Have you seen many black comedies?

Well Dark Comedy, there's a difference, not some typical feel-good comedy, lol.

I always found it to be so dark it was funny. The opening scene alone had me rolling. It has very dark moments it's true, but the characters are all so tragic it's funny.

Exactly

Yeah, i love dark comedy. I didn’t go into this expecting to feel good. It just wasn’t funny

So, you agree there isn’t anything comedic about the movie?

I greatly enjoyed all the aspects you’re talking about, but I don’t see any comedic material in there

For me i just felt awful that the guy had a terrible therapist, that was pretty much it

And i love black comedy

I enjoyed it. Its the movie when the father talks to his crying kid right how he likes to fuck his friends in the ass? LOL.

Yeah, that was a deeply tragic scene that made me weep. It absolutely wasn’t funny

Yeah the movie is definition of dark comedy, use it as example if you wver wanna point out a dark comedy

But comedies should be funny

Hence its dark, you clearly dont like dark comedies

Maybe you just don't like dry humor?

But to be fair, humor is subjective and maybe this one just isn't up your alley.

I love dark comedies.

You do get that something being dark doesn’t inherently make it funny right?

That was so dark it’s funny, he’s right

It is if it’s done dry and comedic like in Happiness.

I agree you can't find anything funny about it. Haven't seen the film in years so I don't recall a lot of it.

Besides Todd's humor being quite dark, he also does it very dryly. I think that's the main element for you. Not saying you don't like any dry humor, but rather dry humor can't really be made to be LOL HAHA funny. It's not really necessary to think it's funny to enjoy it, I don't think. I can agree with you there definitely.

That scene is hilarious. It can be tragic and hilarious at the same time. I think the film was going for that balance. I don’t see how you can’t see why that’s funny.

Then the kid asks him if he'll ever "fuck him", and he says no. And then it's just subverted as he says he'll jerk off instead after a long pause.

It's the only unwanted DVD I've not taken to the charity shop.

I broke it up and threw it in the bin.

Nasty film.

Sure I can agree its kinda rough and sorta emotional watch

Hahaha good shit

I think the movie is very funny.

And also very sad.

Great comedy is often sad.

This is what Solondz had to say:
“It’s often hard for me to separate what I find so sad from what I find so funny. There’s a kind of poignancy for me…things that I am very moved by I find funny.”

The genius of the movie is that the characters often act in a ridiculous way and that ridiculous things happen to them, but they don't see it that way. That's the comedy.

For example: Joy breaks up with Andrew.

At first there is a misdirect. It seems like Andrew will react with quiet resignation.

But then he gets extremely angry. Which is sad, but also funny.

It's funny because Andrew doesn't understand that the gift he bought for Joy isn't romantic or considerate so taking back the gift is a ridiculous gesture.

It's even more funny because Joy pretends the gift is great, because she thinks Andrew is being considerate and understanding.

Then Andrew goes off and starts ranting.

The irony is that the sympathy we felt for him wasn't earned. Joy was right to break up with him, but she broke up with him for the wrong reasons.

The whole scene is set up like a classic joke.

There is a setup, a misdirect, our expectation is subverted, and there is a punchline.

The scene would be far less funny if the gift had been an expensive bracelet instead of an ashtray.

Or if Andrew had been good looking. Or if Joy had been less oblivious.

The scene were the pedophile is trying to rape a child is extremely disturbing, but also funny.

It's funny (and extremely uncomfortable) because we are forced to see things from the perspective of a child molester and there is a gap between how mundane his initial actions are, and the terrible reality of what he's trying to do.

Plus there is the irony that this man is a therapist.

The scene with the son isn't funny, and there is a specific reason for that: it's a scene in which the therapist has to deal with how depraved he is. he has to see himself for what he is, a monster.

Because it has constant jokes

ok OP im going to say this .

Just because you or me or anyone else doesnt find a film funny doesnt mean it shouldnt be classified as a comedy. Its about intention.

Todd Solandz wrote this as a comedy and myself and may others laugh at it. So it IS a comedy.

Seeing it as a dark comedy is the least hard thing when it comes to this film. Todd takes really serious and dark topics and puts a comedic spin on them.

​

Sorry you didnt find it funny but set your personal bias aside to better understand how a film works.

Is Manchester by the sea a dark comedy?

Because it's hilarious. It's black comedy, so obviously it's not gonna land with lots of people. But it is a comedy. Just a VERY dark and bleak one.

Todd Solondz is known for his pitch black comedy.

Im not saying it wasn’t inteded as a comedy. Im just genuinely trying to understand what people find funny about it

oh i dunno the scenes which are clearly meant to be funny. Its fine not to fined something funny but if you watched this film but still couldnt tell why someone might find it funny then thats your problem not the films.

It’s very dry and cruel humor. I love the movie, but there are some parts where I don’t “get” the joke because it’s so dry.

Couldn’t have said it better.

OP, can you give examples of dark comedies you find funny? Maybe then we can point to any parallels that can help you better understand why this film specifically is funny.

Alright you sold me on it, where's that Trimark home video store