Beware of critical appraisal of 'artsy' movies

I thought it was a delightful, exuberant confection. Nothing wrong about a little black humor. But I feel that way about literary critics. They're always writing about how "hilarious" some mega-depressing book is.

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I agree with you that critics often use misleading adjectives, leaving us to rent one thing while expecting another. In this case, folks looking for a sweet, simple romantic comedy will end up with much more: a deep, complicated look at the consequences of human selfishness. It makes sense that some people could be turned off by that. Describing Tamara Drewe as "delightful" is actually underselling and underestimating it. While much of the humor is light, there is also plenty of excellent drama. The characters are all complex, a testament to the writers and director, and no one seems any more important than another. Despite the title, Tamara Drewe herself has little more screen time than anyone else.

A movie isn't artsy just because it's British or because it expresses itself through human emotion rather than cheesy dialogue or special effects - the hallmarks of most American films these days. So while I understand your disappointment, try to see the film for what it is instead of what it is presented as being. In that light, you may find a new appreciation for it. Even if not, at least you've learned that critical reactions rarely hit the mark and that watching a new movie is always a bit of a crapshoot.