By RACHEL M. BOLTON
Arts Editor
Of all the family gatherings to have something get screwed up, a funeral is probably the worst. Alas this is the case in Death at Funeral, where what can go wrong does go wrong. The film is a fantastic black comedy and still manages to have a few poignant moments as well.
Good son Daniel (Matthew Macfadyen) is doing his best to put together his father’s in home funeral. Which does not start on the right foot, due to the undertakers bring him the wrong casket on accident. Daniel’s brother Robert is a bit of flake, although he is the more popular brother for being a successful novelist.
Daniel’s cousin Martha brings her fiancé Simon (Alan Tudyk) along. Simon has a horrid case of the nerves, due to the thought of meeting his intimidating future father in law. Martha gives him what she thinks is valium to calm him down. Her brother Troy is really a drug dealer, moonlighting as a pharmacology student, and what Martha thinks is valium is actually acid.
The biggest problem is when Daniel notices a little person (Peter Dinklage) by his father’s casket. Peter tells Daniel that he and his father were lovers and that he deserves compensation. 15,000 pounds of compensation that is, or he will show the family photos of the two of them together.
It’s all downhill after that.
The film thrives on its multiple elements that slowly culminate into a ball of disaster. The pills disappear; Daniel and Robert try to keep the truth about their dad hush hush, and family friend Howard is forced to take care of horrid old man Uncle Alfie. For a comedy, the film has many twists and turns that will leave you going, “how did I not see that coming?”
The casting of the movie is a treat for television and Jane Austen fans. Matthew Macfadyen AKA Mr. Darcy, gets to be blue eyed and sad once more. And of course, Peter is played by none other than Game of Throne’s Tyrion Lannister himself. Sherlock’s Rupert Graves stars as Robert, and I could not get over how silly his hair looks in this role. Fans of Firefly will be happy to see Wash back in business.
There is only one real issue with the film, but that is mostly me nitpicking. With spoiling anything, let’s just say that some very interesting explanations is going to be involved.
The film was remade in America under the same name in 2010, with Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence as the leads. Peter Dinklage reprises his role as the blackmailer. While I like the original more than the remake, the 2010 film is still hilarious and faithful to the original in tone and style.
I definitely recommend the film. The British accents may be hard to grasp at first, but that’s what subtitles are for. Fans of the film Little Miss Sunshine will be happy with Death at Funeral.
