Studio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 09/23/2008 Run time: 91 minutes Rating: R

Though it doesn't hit the same comic heights as Bowfinger, Death at a Funeral is a fun little romp. Granted, not all of the characters are meant to be humorous, like Daniel (Matthew Macfadyen, Pride & Prejudice) and his wife, Jane (Keeley Hawes, Tristram Shandy), straight-faced foils for the more over-the-top performers. After Daniel's father passes away, the couple offers to host the funeral, so all his relatives descend on the family abode, including Daniel's estranged brother, Robert (Rupert Graves, V for Vendetta). The mood is already tense when their cousin, Martha (Daisy Donovan), arrives with her nervous fiancé, Simon (Alan Tudyk, Serenity). On the way over, Simon takes a Valium that's actually a hallucinogenic concoction cooked up by Martha's pharmacology student brother. By the time they arrive, Simon's inhibitions are gone with the wind. Other guests include Uncle Alfie (Peter Vaughn) and an uninvited American mourner (Peter Dinklage). By the end of the movie, one of these individuals will be dead. Though he's worked in the States for several decades, director Frank Oz was born in the UK, and Death at a Funeral feels like the work of a British filmmaker. As drawing room comedies go, it may not rival Arsenic and Old Lace, but it's still funnier than most. If the film has a flaw, it's one misjudged moment of scatological humor, which is sure to induce more cringes than giggles. Fortunately, it's over quickly, and Tudyk's hilarious performance provides ample compensation. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Beyond Death at a Funeral

More from Frank Oz

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I'm a long time fan of British comedy, so when I stumbled across this at my local video store I was hooked. My initial impressions during the first third or so of the film were not particularly favorable. I thought it was very slow to get moving, and had a rather grim cast to it, which makes sense given the subject matter but did little to suggest anything comedic.

Gradually, though, the story begins to build up a head of steam and by about the midpoint of the movie the laughs are coming with greater force and frequency. The uniquely British humor eventually reaches a mighty crescendo with a raucous, if somewhat predicable, denouement. At points it gets a little dark, in others a bit slapstickish, and in others downright crude. Overall, though, I believe most viewers will find this a very entertaining tale if you can hang in through the first 20-30 minutes, which are rather dry. On a final note, this is definitely not suitable for children due to liberal use of colorful language.

I watched this movie at a friend's house early in the year; I didn't realize it was a comedy and I didn't realize how hilarious the film was. I have watched this movie over and over and still my cheeks are soar from laughing. I bought it for my sister as a birthday gift so now the both of us can watch it all the time. I highly recommend anyone renting this film but have no doubt you would want to own it.

This movie has every funny, insane mishap that could possibly happen when families come together. Who would have ever thought a movie about a funeral could be so laugh out loud funny?

Not usually a fan of British humor, but this was one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. My hubby and I were on a plane when we started to watch it and had people in the surrounding 10 rows wonder what the hell we were laughing so hard about. A must see!

I borrowed from my library as I do many movies. I tried to watch it but I, too, did not find any amusement and I checked the display and had already watched 37 minutes of it without the hint of a laugh. Does this movie start out REALLY slow because it just wasn't funny to me at all. I consider myself to have a pretty good sense of humor and I laugh easily at funny, witty lines. The bit with the guy who was under the influence of some drug was to me, something only young immature boys would find amusing. I found myself watching this like it was an assignment that I had to complete and I finally just stopped the DVD and gave up.

Not my "cup of tea", I guess.