Death at a Funeral

Director: Frank Oz
Starring: Matthew Macfayden, Keeley Hawes, Andy Nyman
Cert. 15


I was looking forward to this, the trailer looked great and I had gotten up my hopes that this would maybe be the film to end the recent slump in British film comedy that, over the last half-century, has: A) seen high-profile offerings like Magicians, Keeping Mum, Blackball and Sex Lives of the Potato Men all falter critically and commercially. And B) Some of the industry's dependable old guard (Rowan Atkinson, Mel Smith etc.) really struggling to make a decent flick.


It was with optimism, then, that I viewed the film - experienced yank director helms relatively fresh-faced cast and untried screenwriter - this could be the film to give big screen Britcom the kick up the rear it so sorely needs.



It wasn't.


The premise is good - a young man with an extremely dysfunctional family is in charge of his father's funeral, which obviously goes terribly. This premise is the perfect setup for some old-style black comedy, but said comedy never eally arises. The script misses completely, trying to do too many things at once. It was also chronically uneven, with the only decent subplot (a sibling rivalry between the protagonist and his prodigal brother) given next to no attention. Every joke is signposted several miles off, the humour totally unsophisticated, especially one drug-themed section, which was just insultingly childish. There are a few laughs, but they're just tame. The cast is also a downside, completely mismatched, with the only comedy talent (the ever-reliable Daisy Donovan and My Family's Kris Marshall) completely wasted and the protagonists just not funny.



This film is just one massive missed opportunity, with such a promising premise completely wasted by some hamfisted execution. This film markets itself as an outrageous black comedy, but really it's just sheep is very poorly made wolf's clothing. With a bit more courage in it's comedic convictions, this could have been great, as it stands however, it isn't. Far from it.


1.5/5