Everyone has been raving about SIDEWAYS. I have seen the word "hilarious" attached to this film. I rather expected that something which is classified as an adventure, comedy, drama would at least make me smile. I remember this movie thoroughly and looking back it's not a disappointment because it does involve you in real characters with real flaws and average problems. However, it is NOT a comedy in the traditional sense. Certain recent comedies try so hard to be funny that they include scenes that are ghastly and embarrassing; nowadays that passes as humor. This film has no jokes, barely approaches any slapstick or other physical humor. Usually you could only laugh if you are sadistic, but the film is engaging, and I found myself rooting for the protagonists. It's NOT light amusement. It's certainly not "Hilarious". (And thank heavens they deleted the scenes about the dog from the final cut or I could not recommend the film to anyone. Why were those ever created?)
