Death at a Funeral (2007)

Directed by: Frank Oz | 90 minutes | drama, comedy | Actors: Matthew MacFadyen, Rupert Graves, Alan Tudyk, Daisy Donovan, Kris Marshall, Andy Nyman, Jane Asher, Keeley Hawes, Peter Vaughan, Ewen Bremner, Peter Dinklage, Thomas Wheatley, Peter Egan, Jeremy Booth, Angela Curran, Kelly Eastwood, Gareth Milne, Brendan O’Hea

Frank Oz has been working as an actor/puppeteer for Jim Henson for years and voiced Miss Piggy, Grover, Bert and Fozzie Bear, among others. And he’s Yoda, from Starwars, “Trust in the force you must”, how cool is that! Together with Jim he directed his first feature film ‘Dark Crystal’ in 1982. As a director he soon focused on comedies, which resulted in a number of memorable titles such as ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ (1988) and the unsurpassed ‘What about Bob’ (1991). Later mainly films followed, which we have all not seen or have forgotten.

That shouldn’t apply to ‘Death at a Funeral’, an adult comedy about a funeral that won’t go smoothly. When the funeral people bring the deceased patriarch to the family home, eldest son Daniel opens the coffin: “Who is that?” Then you get a hand-rubbing sense for the rest of the film and it does not disappoint. The story is about taking responsibility. Not only for yourself, but also for the people around you, the people who are dear to you. Not that they do, on the contrary. Dad did. That is why everyone is very sad that he is dead. He also had an inspiring life motto: “do what makes you happy and do it now.” But he also had secrets and now that they are irrevocably coming out, the mutual relationships are being sharpened and everyone is confronted with their own life choices. ‘Party’ (1998), but lighthearted.

The strength of the film lies in the (not too) farcical script and the ensemble of good actors, who portray recognizable characters. One by one, they are introduced as they make their way to the funeral. The almost demented, invalid uncle, with a bad mood, the mother who doesn’t like her daughter-in-law, one brother who is a successful writer and the other (the protagonist) who would like to be. His best friend who is hypochondriac. And then that dwarf, whom no one knows, what is he doing at the funeral? Well and clearly written, in the first twenty minutes the cards are shuffled and dealt and the game can begin.

The best roles are for Ewen Bremmer (Martha’s horny one night stand) and a wonderfully grimaceous Alan Tudyk as an unconscious drug user. Together with the rest of the excellent cast and supported by a fine, appropriate soundtrack, they make a solid impression, in a fun film that deserves a wide audience.