Details
Movie Description
Written by Dean Craig and directed by comedic veteran Frank Oz, DEATH AT A FUNERAL finds a well-to-do British family attempting to bury their patriarch amidst a backdrop of secrets, revelations, rivalries, and illicit pharmaceuticals. While the dutiful Daniel (Matthew MacFadyen) stoically contends with major roadblocks in planning his father's funeral, including being presented with the wrong body, others connected with the family have catastrophes of their own, including the anxious Simon (Alan Tudyk), who is engaged to Martha (Daisy Donovan), and mistakenly takes a hallucinogen to calm his nerves. Lurking in the background is a mysterious stranger (Peter Dinklage) who threatens to send the chaotic proceedings over the brink.
A charming mix of high- and lowbrow humor, DEATH AT A FUNERAL is a lively farce that makes the most of its hijinks-filled script and topnotch cast. In addition to excellent performances by MacFadyen (PRIDE & PREJUDICE) and Tudyk (SERENITY), the film features fine turns by Donovan, Andy Nyman, and former Swinging London sweetheart Jane Asher. Easily Oz's best movie since the giddily silly BOWFINGER, DEATH showcases the director's knack for working with large ensembles, and will appeal to fans of his earlier romp IN & OUT, as well as to aficionados of biting British comedy.
Industry Reviews
"[D]irector Frank Oz comes back strong with this absolutely uproarious British comedy of no manners."
Box Office - Tim Cogshell (06/22/2007)
3.5 stars out of 4 -- "The lack of propriety and solemnity is precisely what makes this comic farce so uproariously funny."
Total Film - Claudia Puig (08/17/2007)
"Macfadyen crumples very endearingly as his character succumbs to the tide of mishaps, and there are showreel moments too for Kris Marshall..."
Sight and Sound - Lisa Mullen (11/01/2007)
3 stars out of 5 -- "Frank Oz's frantic farce tickles thanks to a rapid-fire stream of slapstick gags and gallows humour."
Total Film - Jane Crowther (11/01/2007)
3 stars out of 5 -- "Impeccable comic timing ensures the gags flow fast, while some delightfully ludicrous predicaments keep things fresh."
Empire - James Dyer (10/19/2007)
"DEATH AT A FUNERAL is a lethal farce, combining hints of THE LAVENDER HILL MOB, doses of Joe Orton and a smidgen of the Farrelly brothers' scatology in its mix."
Los Angeles Times - Sid Smith (08/17/2007)
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