If someone ever asks you if you would like to see a Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Finnish or Russian comedy then...well, I won’t say “Run for your life!!” but I will say “Be careful”.
Movies in the north loves to deal with serious issues like death, drugs, alcohol and other fun stuff, and even most of our comedies will leave you with a feeling that the world is a horrible place.
You think I’m exaggerating? Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you when you sit in the dark, crying.
A nice example is this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE4ZBcK01HU It’s considered one of the funniest scenes in the movie. He doesn’t like that the cow is looking at him.
And punching woman is funny too http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2WrE7SKmK4
Dude With A Gun: You lookin' at me, ya fuckin' cow?!? BANG!
Cow: *dead*
Other Dude: Dude, what the fuck?!? Why did you shoot my- hey, that's a cool gun, can I hold it?
As an Eastern European (as much as I hate to admit being one ), I can confirm, our humour is the exact same as the Scandis. It's dark.
In Hungarian, when sth goes or is expected to go just like it's supposed to, we often say "sínen van", lit. "someone/sth is on the rails" (you get it, like trains, cause they have fixed paths and always go where they're supposed to). A variation of this idiom is "someone/sth is on the rails like József Attila". Who's József Attila, you ask? An early 20th century poet who committed suicide by jumping in front of a train. Yeah, I know...
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Cow: *dead*
Other Dude: Dude, what the fuck?!? Why did you shoot my- hey, that's a cool gun, can I hold it?