Comedies do not always have to be shiny and light to be enjoyable. Some of my favorite comedies are dark and dreary. These movies all have oddball characters and situations that are hilarious and depressing. The absurdity of these movies takes a backseat to the truths found within their subjects.

One of my favorite movies of all time is Dr. Strangelove: or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. Equal parts ridiculous and satire of the nuclear scare, the movie follows a bumbling Air Force general who thinks that Russia is going to bomb the United States. A group of oddball advisors try to talk the general down, but the crew a B-52 bomber will not let their mission be deterred. The performances by Peter Sellers show how great he was as an actor.

Royal Tenenbaum is all by himself. He has been kicked out of his hotel and is looking for a place to stay. Will Royal find solace with his former tennis pro son, neurotic overprotective son, depressed daughter, or spiteful ex-wife? There may be a way to fix everyone, but Royal has to find the best way. The ensemble cast of The Royal Tenenbaums makes this dark movie ridiculous and surprisingly likeable, even if every character is a horrible person.

Growing up is hard to do and two movies showcase teen love and angst. Submarine follows the love of 15-year-old Oliver Tate as he tries to lose his virginity and save his mom. He is filled with angst and anxiety as he desperately wants to connect with Jordana Bevan. Sometimes love can be hard, especially when you can't talk to the one you love.

A second coming-of-age film is Better off Dead. Lane Meyer’s girlfriend has left him and he decides that the only way to a better life is through suicide. Life gets stranger as a French foreign exchange student moves in next door and Lane tries many different ways to end his existence. Can Lane win his girlfriend back or will the paperboy kill him for the two-dollar debt that is owed? Catch this ridiculous movie to find out.

Leave a comment and tell me what dark comedies make you laugh.