mˈɪstɚ. bˈælæbən kˈænt mˌeɪk ðə dˈɑːɹk ˈɛlɪmənts sˈiːm kˈɑːmɪk ɪnˈʌf tə mˈɛʃ wɪððə ɹˈɛst ʌv ðɪs nˈaɪtmɛɹɪʃ dʒˈoʊk.
Mr. Balaban can't make the dark elements seem comic enough to mesh with the rest of this nightmarish joke.