I must admit that after two decades of life, I have yet to make a trip across the pond to Europe, much to my disappointment. Despite this, I have familiarized myself with many potential sights to visit in preparation for my eventual journey over there. Among them is the city of Bruges located in Belgium, one of the oldest preserved medieval cities in that country, full of old buildings and cobblestone streets. Being American, naturally I was quite amused when several characters in Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges, all of whom are European natives, seemed to know nothing about the city, including its location. So, for anyone who might find themselves similarly ignorant, you have just learned something new.

In Bruges follows the exploits of two hit men, Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson), who are sent by their boss, Harry (Ralph Fiennes), to lay low in Belgium after Ray botches a hit that results in the accidental murder of a child. Ken is content to tour the city by day and spend the evening waiting by the phone for instructions, but Ray absolutely hates the Belgian city, looking for whatever diversions he can while pondering what kind of person murdering a child makes him. When instructions finally come, Ken finds himself with an impossible choice to make: He can either follow his orders to kill Ray or risk his own life by giving his nearly suicidal friend a chance to redeem himself.

This film tries to be two things: a character study, in which the characters ponder life, death and morality and a dark comedy. As a character study, this film is rather shallow. None of the characters are ever really given much of a background, so their philosophical musings only seem to come out of their nature as hit men rather than as fully realized people. We get only shades of the lives of our two protagonists (we learn that Ken owes Harry for avenging his dead wife, but we learn almost nothing about Ray). Ken’s main argument that Ray should live is based on the idea that Ray has the potential to be a better man. But other than remorse and suicidal tendencies, no indication of this potential is shown in Ray. One can appreciate the sentiment, but it is definitely lacking support.

When it comes to dark comedy, however, In Bruges excels and exceeds every expectation. The number of side-splitting laughs in this film is impossible to count. Even in the story’s darkest moments, the filmmakers are able to mine the smallest chuckles for all that they are worth. Before the movie is over, broken bottles, midgets, Canadians, Americans, race wars, horse tranquilizers, assault, battery, murder and a whole host of other subjects are all addressed and laughed at. This is a damn funny movie, and the comedy is so superb that the film succeeds terrifically, despite its faltering attempts to be a morality play as well.

Of course, no humor would be possible without good actors, and the performers here breathe tremendous amounts of life into their characters. Farrell has always played young and brash very well, so he is a very good fit for the role of Ray; he brings a wry charm to the inexperienced hit man, but he also deftly handles the emotional conflict and torment that Ray must contend with throughout the movie. Gleeson brings a sense of world weariness and quiet dignity to Ken, the old pro. Together, Farrell and Gleeson are brilliant comedic foils with excellent chemistry, portraying that almost-clichéd relationship of two people who could not be more different but somehow still care for each other and get along in spite of it. Fiennes plays an evil, psychotic killer with a twisted sense of morality as only the man who also plays Lord Voldemort could, but even he manages to bring his own brand of subdued humor to the role.

Opinions on the city of Bruges itself vary greatly: Ray hates it, Ken likes it, Harry loves it and I myself have heard differing views, ranging from, “It’s great,” to, “It’s depressing.” But no matter where you go on your next vacation, there is absolutely no question that In Bruges, even with its slight flaws, is one of the funniest and most entertaining movies so far this year. As for the city itself, maybe I will get there one day, though I must admit the violence and death in this movie have colored my opinion somewhat.