Kicking off with some of bluest language you're likely to hear outside of a working men's club somewhere in the back streets of Glasgow, this movie pulls no punches and sets out its stall before the opening credits are even finished. Described as a 'darkly comic tale', Crying With Laughter follows the life of a Scottish stand up comedian who has nothing to laugh about having fallen on hard times and a series of sour life experiences.

This debut feature from writer/director Justin Molotnikov stars Stephen McCole as stand-up Joey Frisk. Warmly shot and personal, the actors belie their inexperience with some convincing portrayals that speak of real life and the reality of a vented spleen filled with real human pain and hatred.

Playing out his life on the stand up stage in a terrifying blunt fashion, McCole pours passion and grief into his performance. Although travelling rather too close to the boundaries of credibility in some scenes, the script is charged with momentum and profane but compellingly delivered banter throughout.

Meeting an old friend (Frank Archer played by Malcolm Shields) at the start of what becomes 'the week from hell', the lead character is charged with grievous bodily harm after being charged for a near fatal beating to his landlord, which he remembers nothing about.  Archer puts Frisk up when he is down on his luck and the two initially bond until a chase, a kidnap and a twisted frame set-up all contort to make this a pleasing tale of the highs and lows of modern life.

The movie builds to a Resevoir Dogs style capture and torture scene, but fails to contain any real degree of combustible tension or suspense. Despite winning accolades including the BAFTA Best Scottish Film 2009 award, it appears unlikely that you'll be watching this either on your next transatlantic flight, let alone in decade or two from now.