When early morning radio host Alan "dicky" Bird's kleptomaniac but spontaneously refreshing girlfriend Maddy dumps him a week before Christmas, not only does she take with her virtually every possession in his flat, but also the intangibles that he had become accustomed to over time: comfort and joy. Alan finds himself rudderless, bored and lonely during that time of year where it's impossible not to be reminded of "tidings of comfort and joy." Left only with his cherished red BMW sports car he drives aimlessly through the streets until one day he makes eye contact with an attractive girl in the back of ice cream van (keep in mind it's December in Scotland) and follows her on a whim. Seeking to change his fate, he approaches the van but when confronted face to face with the girl, can do no better than purchase an ice cream. But fate engages the situation more forcefully, and as Alan is walking back to his BMW, the ice cream van is savagely attacked by masked men with clubs and when one of the terrorists recognizes Alan as "Dicky" the radio host, he is unwittingly enlisted as an interlocker between the two warring ice cream competitors. The music of Dire Straits (Love Over Gold) is cleverly woven throughout the film, at times actually being incorporated into the dialog. An original offbeat comedy subtle but effectively funny.
Review of Comfort and Joy
