Death at a Funeral (C+ or 2.5/4 stars)
I really got a kick out of 2007's 'Death at a Funeral', set in the English countryside & starring an all-British cast. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be remade ... and only 3 yrs. later! Directed by Neil LaBute, this film stays true to the spirit of the 1st film while only having a handful of changes. Instead of being British, this cast here is black. Instead of the countryside, we're in a stately parlor. And the script, aside from a few digressions & dialogue tinkerings, is identical to the original. Onto the plot: the funeral is for the beloved, deceased father of Aaron (Chris Rock) & his successful writer brother, Ryan (Martin Lawrence), who has flown in from the Big Apple. Though he is a womanizer (who isn't around much, nor wants to help pay for the funeral), Ryan is still the apple of mama's eye (Loretta Devine); while good-boy Aaron can't seem to win her adoration - probably due to his not producing a child with wife, Michelle (Regina Hall) yet.
Things start off rocky at the funeral when his dad's coffin holds the wrong body. But that gets fixed just as guests start arriving -- if only that were the only problem Aaron faces. The guests (mourners) include Aaron's cousin Elaine (Zoe Saldana), who's arrived with her fiancee, Oscar (James Marsden). Oscar is a bit messed-up, however, having accidentally taken a hallucinogenic drug before arriving. Pals Norman & Derek (Tracy Morgan, Luke Wilson) are on their way, too. Norman is obsessing over a skin rash while Derek hopes to get back together with Elaine when he sees her. They arrive with crotchety Uncle Russell (Danny Glover) in tow; who always has some profane comment flying out of his trap. Wrapping up the guests is a dwarf (Peter Dinklage), whom no one seems to know. Why is he lingering near the coffin, & who the hell is he? What transpires is a crazy debacle of exposed family secrets, resentments, threats, & missing bodies.
I guess a decent script is a decent script - no matter the director or cast. The 2007 film is still a touch better. The line deliveries are a bit sharper, drier, & knowingly satirical, i.e., of British culture. But while this film isn't quite as good, I still found myself chuckling & enjoying the cast at intermittent spots throughout. Chris Rock plays the low-key, worrisome Aaron quite well. I loved seeing Martin Lawrence again. Tracy Morgan is enjoyable high-strung. Danny Glover had me in stitches as old Uncle Russell. And James Marsden as absolutely hysterical as the batsh*t crazy Oscar (high on drugs). Look out for his elongated nude scene on the roof. He's just as funny as Alan Tudyk's similarly crazy turn in the '07 version. Everyone has their moment(s) - even if the female roles are shortchanged.
Most of the humor occurs in the 2nd half of the movie; whereas the 1st half is thorough set-up. Not all of the comedy strikes a chord. Some of it is truly juvenile, or cliched (pop culture gags, bodies falling from caskets, poop jokes, hallucinogenic jokes, standard African-American jokes). And there will be few surprises in the story. But overall, if you're looking for a repeat standard of the original, you won't quite get it. BUT, the premise of this story & the universality of the jokes obviously work on some base level. The cast is fun. I smiled a lot. Perfect for DVD viewing.
Things start off rocky at the funeral when his dad's coffin holds the wrong body. But that gets fixed just as guests start arriving -- if only that were the only problem Aaron faces. The guests (mourners) include Aaron's cousin Elaine (Zoe Saldana), who's arrived with her fiancee, Oscar (James Marsden). Oscar is a bit messed-up, however, having accidentally taken a hallucinogenic drug before arriving. Pals Norman & Derek (Tracy Morgan, Luke Wilson) are on their way, too. Norman is obsessing over a skin rash while Derek hopes to get back together with Elaine when he sees her. They arrive with crotchety Uncle Russell (Danny Glover) in tow; who always has some profane comment flying out of his trap. Wrapping up the guests is a dwarf (Peter Dinklage), whom no one seems to know. Why is he lingering near the coffin, & who the hell is he? What transpires is a crazy debacle of exposed family secrets, resentments, threats, & missing bodies.
I guess a decent script is a decent script - no matter the director or cast. The 2007 film is still a touch better. The line deliveries are a bit sharper, drier, & knowingly satirical, i.e., of British culture. But while this film isn't quite as good, I still found myself chuckling & enjoying the cast at intermittent spots throughout. Chris Rock plays the low-key, worrisome Aaron quite well. I loved seeing Martin Lawrence again. Tracy Morgan is enjoyable high-strung. Danny Glover had me in stitches as old Uncle Russell. And James Marsden as absolutely hysterical as the batsh*t crazy Oscar (high on drugs). Look out for his elongated nude scene on the roof. He's just as funny as Alan Tudyk's similarly crazy turn in the '07 version. Everyone has their moment(s) - even if the female roles are shortchanged.
Most of the humor occurs in the 2nd half of the movie; whereas the 1st half is thorough set-up. Not all of the comedy strikes a chord. Some of it is truly juvenile, or cliched (pop culture gags, bodies falling from caskets, poop jokes, hallucinogenic jokes, standard African-American jokes). And there will be few surprises in the story. But overall, if you're looking for a repeat standard of the original, you won't quite get it. BUT, the premise of this story & the universality of the jokes obviously work on some base level. The cast is fun. I smiled a lot. Perfect for DVD viewing.