submitted: Jun 3rd 2008 | by: Ace | Total views: 64 | Word Count: 657 | |

The British just have a way of delivering the one liners and physical humour on a whole different level and they probably owe their successes to the classic Monty Python films.  It’s all in the delivery, and lead up to the punch line that makes Death at a Funeral a success and incredibly funny.  This film is smart, well written, juvenile at times, subtle at others and full of mishaps, misunderstandings and bawdy British humour. 
 
Death at a Funeral is set in modern day England as an upper middle class family finalizes the plans to lay their father and husband to rest following what appears to be a unexpected death of the well respected head of the family.  The opening sequence finds son Daniel, played by Matthew MacFadyen, supervising the delivery of his father’s casket to the country home where he lives with his mother and wife.  The undertakers place the casket in the sitting room, open it for the son to view their handy work and thus begin the hysterical consequences and unfortunate events of the day as Daniel finds that the wrong body has been brought to the home.  Hastil y the funeral home removes the body and from there on out, it seems like nothing can possibly go right.
 
Eventually the correct remains are delivered without incident, and shortly there after the invasion of dysfunctional family members and friends descend on the weary immediate family.  This is an almost entirely British cast with the exception of one of my favourite actors, Peter Dinklage, who plays a mysterious American guest at the funeral who nobody can identify as family or friend and Alan Tudyk playing the misfortunate fiancé Simon, brought to the funeral by the niece of the deceased.  Dinklage shines in this hilarious turn, displaying a fair share of physical timing and delivery not seen since his small role (no pun intended) in the film Elf and Tudyk steals each and every scene that he is in after ingesting two pills, thought to be valium, yet actually hallucinogenics that cause the most inopportune results imaginable yet over the top hysteric al for us. These moments will have you laughing till your stomach hurts, or close to it. In fact, the entire cast works well together, a diverse group of individuals who each add to the story line and provide some incredibly funny moments.  One of the characters who stand out is Uncle Alfie, played by classically trained English actor Peter Vaughn. Yes, it’s potty humour, disgusting even at times but you can’t help but appreciate it and laugh out loud. 
 
Scattered amongst the slapstick humour of the day, there are some very interesting family dynamics including the relationship between two brothers brought back together by the death of their father, and the open display of tension between the wife of the deceased and her daughter-in-law who can do nothing right. 
 
For the first 20 minutes or so I was attempting to place the character actor who plays Daniel, knowing that I had seem him somewhere before.  He is virtually unrecognizable from his brilliant turn in the 2005 production Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightly.  This actor has incredible range, going from that serious fare to this hysterical one. You have to respect such versatility.
 
Death at a Funeral is entertaining, dark at times, light at others, and if I had to compare it to anything it would be a cross between Four Weddings and a Funeral and A Fish Called Wanda, just a jumble of physical humour, smart writing and a talented cast.  It just goes to prove that no matter what, your family is all you’ve got…crazy Uncles Alfies and all. 
 
If you want a laugh and enjoy that British delivery, I recommend Death at a Funeral to fill the order.  It was rated R for some bawdiness that might not be appropriate for the little viewers in your household, something to keep in mind.

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