Written by Vickie
April 15, 2010
A terrific, silly, way over-the-top (in the best way imaginable) British farce!
Let me begin by saying that this film came thisclose to getting a full pie, and likely would have earned eight slices had it not been for the stench of B.O. emanating from the fellow in the seat in front of me... which, in turn, caused me endless distraction throughout. I likely missed a laugh or joke or two, and I blame that guy and his unwashed self.
Anyway...
Death at a Funeral is a terrific, silly, way over-the-top (in the best way imaginable) British farce that starts out simply enough – family and friends are gathering for a wake – and quickly snowballs into an avalanche of absurdity. Former MI-5 co-stars Matthew MacFadyen and Keeley Hawes reunite as married couple Daniel and Jane. Daniel’s father has died, and it’s up to him to orchestrate the funeral, deliver the eulogy and corral a huge assortment of guests.
And, thus, hilarity ensues.
Among the “mourners” (none of whom seem particularly broken up about the passing) are Daniel’s successful-author brother Robert (Rupert Graves), whom everyone is anxious to see; cousins Martha (Daisy Donovan) and Troy (Kris Marshall), who are trying – and failing – to keep a lid on the fact that Martha’s fiancé, Simon (Alan Tudyk), accidentally consumed some hallucinogens before arriving; Daniel’s friends Howard (Andy Nyman) and Justin (Ewen Bremner), the former of whom is saddled with senile Uncle Alfie (Peter Vaughn), and the latter of whom carries a big torch for Martha... which he repeatedly tries to reignite. Topping off the guest list is Peter (Peter Dinklage), a mysterious American who brings with him a big secret about the deceased.
High-brow comedy this ain’t, but hilarious, hysterical and hugely entertaining it most certainly is. There’s some gallows humor along with a dash of crass, but it all fits together seamlessly. I’m not exaggerating when I say people in the theater were positively screeching with laughter and stomping their feet in enjoyment. I don’t think I’ve ever been at a screening where that’s happened before! Fans of British television will delight in the number of familiar faces here, with Nyman and Donovan the biggest standouts in the ensemble. Everyone is great, but those two own the movie. Tudyk comes a very close third for his otherworldly turn as someone waaaaaay higher than a kite.
I love films that take place in a single setting or over the course of a single day, and Death at a Funeral does both amazingly well. The action keeps moving as the situation spirals more and more out of control, and each character’s storyline is skillfully interwoven with the others so that everybody gets equal time, equal billing and equal amounts of outrageousness. It is a thoroughly satisfying, totally insane movie from start to finish.
