Just as often he views those worlds through lenses tinted a middling-to-dark-gray or maybe a jaundiced yellow. … While poking fun at the happily-ever-after notion by means of a strong dose of happily-never-after, Cariani shoots his cockeyed valentines with a quiver full of funny lines.
In a similar vein, Cariani frequently views those worlds through a pessimistic filter, often using humor to subvert the traditional happily-ever-after narrative. He achieves this by crafting witty one-liners that playfully skewer the idea of a perfect ending.