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USCAF Review: Death at a Funeral

by Alex Billington
March 3, 2007

US Release Date: US Comedy Arts Fest
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Running Time: 95 minutes
Directed by: Frank Oz
on IMDb
9.5/10

I'll admit heading into Death at a Funeral I wasn't sure what to expect, and was worried that Frank Oz may go a little too muppety and not enough quality. Fortunately I was completely surprised by a fantastic comedy that ranks highly in the best of great British humor and comedies in general. The film surrounds a funeral in England where a number of family members return to the home of their mother and now widow. As the family members and relatives arrive, an increasing number of ridiculous happenings begin to occur and the whole funeral begins to swirl wildly out of control. I have not laughed this much since I saw Borat for the first time last year, and the film has outdone not only Ira and Abby from yesterday at the US Comedy Arts Fest, but every other comedy this year, too.

The film sets up a perfect start, when in the first scene the wrong coffin arrives. From there every new arrival and new character is an even funnier twist. What's great is that the film connects all of each individual person's stories together, even spread all the way across the movie. It has little bits of all kinds of humor, including slapstick and physical humor, as well as conventional and dialogue. I kept laughing nearly every minute without a single dry moment, only a feat few other comedies have matched, including Borat, Shaun of the Dead, and Office Space. In addition, this is Alan Tudyk's true mainstream calling - if everyone doesn't recognize his incredible talent after seeing this, then they must've seen the wrong film. I couldn't wait to see his character again on screen when he wasn't in a scene, and even though the comedy kept up at the same level throughout, Tudyk just made the film that much better. Without spoiling the surprises too much, Tudyk delivers the best drugged-up comedic character I've ever seen. Truly only someone like Frank Oz could pull off such delirious and masterful hilarity surrounding a death and a funeral, and still make you smile in the end.

My suggestion: Definitely see this opening day, you won't regret it and will be laughing off your seat endlessly throughout.

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http://www.fotolog.com/petit_she Petit

PERFECT. everything. oh my godness, i've never seen something like this. it's expetacular.
moviekid10

One of the best comedy films I have ever seen in my whole life. I was in tears by the end of it. The most wickedly hilarious crowd pleasing british comedy since Four Weddings and a Funeral
Bette

I just reread two of your 2007 reviews for Death at a Funeral and Alan Tudyk. I agree with you. This is my all-time favorite comedy and I'm crazy about Alan's work. I thought he was hilarious - when he wasn't on screen you couldn't help but wonder what he was up to or what he might do next. The original was so poorly handled by the distribution company, it didn't get the attention it deserved. Even so, I cannot believe there is already a remake!!! Alex, what is your take on this?