Directed by:
Frank OzScreenplay:
Dean CraigCinematography:
Oliver CurtisComposer:
Murray GoldCast:
Matthew Macfadyen, Rupert Graves, Alan Tudyk, Andy Nyman, Daisy Donovan, Jane Asher, Keeley Hawes, Peter Vaughan, Ewen Bremner, Peter Dinklage, Kris Marshall (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
A dignified send-off for a loved one erupts into uproarious chaos when romance, jealousy, in-laws, hallucinogens, dark secrets, life-long yearnings and a spot of bold blackmail all collide graveside in the irreverent British comedy, Death at a Funeral. Directed by Frank Oz and featuring a cast made up of the cream of Britain’s crop, the film mischievously explores what happens on the day when a typically divided family is finally forced to come to terms with each other’s bad behaviour, outrageous faults, skeletons in the closet and all.
On the morning of their father’s funeral, the family and friends of the deceased each arrives with his or her own roiling anxieties. Son, Daniel (Matthew Macfadyen) knows he will have to face his flirty, blowhard famous novelist brother, Robert (Rupert Graves), who’s just flown in from New York, not to mention the promises of a new life he’s made to his new wife, Jane (Keeley Hawes). Meanwhile, Daniel’s cousin, Martha (Daisy Donovan) and her dependable new fiancé, Simon (Alan Tudyk) are desperate to make a good impression on Martha’s uptight father - a plan that literally goes out the window when Simon accidentally ingests a designer drug en route to the service, leaving him prone to uncontrollable bouts of delirium and nudity in front of his potential in-laws. Then comes the real shocker: a mysterious guest (Peter Dinklage) who threatens to unveil an earth-shattering family secret. As riotous mayhem and unfortunate mishaps ensue on every front, it is now up to the two brothers to hide the truth from their family and friends and figure out how to not only bury their dearly beloved, but the secret he’s been keeping.
(Icon Home Entertainment)
Videos (1)
Reviews (9)
Excellent British humor that definitely won't appeal to everyone. An absurd drama is unfolding, gradually escalating in humiliation, but it maintains a good level the whole time, you always know it's on a lighter note and it works. It's entertaining from beginning to end, never boring. It probably won't sit well with everyone, I'm sure of that, but give this comedy a chance. Some characters and scenes are absolutely excellent.
()
A hackneyed premise boosted with hits of LSD and a gay dwarf. The successful comeback of former comedy master Frank Oz has juice, is properly British, morbid and cynical, and maintains its quality even when one of the main characters gets feces on his face. Plus it has a not entirely mainstream cast, which is all the more interesting for that. I recommend serving this up after a weekend breakfast.
()
A superbly cast black comedy (like death) from the reliable Frank Oz that continually builds, surprises, entertains and amuses from the opening to the closing credits. Although I was really disgusted by one toilet moment, I laughed practically all the time. And the cast is so great, I don't know who I should praise first. An inconspicuous gem.
()
I instantly liked this film the first time I saw it. I’m really keen on dry English humor, and there was plenty of it here. I enjoyed the perfect concert of the various little complications that turned the originally planned funeral into something completely different. I also liked how the individual roles were cast. The role of Simon, in particular, must have been tailor-made for Alan Tudyk. He is excellent at playing these unfortunate characters who always end up taking the fall for things that weren’t their fault. To mention a negative, I could definitely do without the toilet scene with Uncle Alfie – perhaps a German influence?
()
You can find several really good gags in this movie, but otherwise the master behind Yoda cooked up a weird concoction of black comedy mixed with family drama. Sometimes the movie is caught in spasms, but at other times it gives us gags involving a shitty hand, etc. The viewer simply has to take it as it comes.
()
Ads