Comedy is an odd, and volatile thing. It handles certain adverse conditions (say, the intense warfare of David O. Russell's Three Kings) with such grace that you'd think the two went hand in hand on a normal basis. But then there's the mixture of comedy and mourning, which we see in Frank Oz's new film Death at a Funeral. Oz is no stranger to the genre, having previously honed his craft in films like Bowfinger and What About Bob? But this is a far more difficult trick to master, and as a result many of the jokes come off either in poor taste or as just plain unfunny.
An unnamed English family has recently lost its patriarch, and members from all over are arriving for the funeral. The way each one is worked into the storyline is admirable. Characters who would find themselves contributing little in any similar movies (the crazy old uncle, for example), are given chances to shine and take advantage. In particular, Kris Marshall (as the clumsy, but likable nephew, Troy) and Alan Tudyk (as the niece's boyfriend, Simon) were excellent casting choices. You're guaranteed some chuckles whenever they're on screen. The normally reliable Ewen Bremner, however, was slightly disappointing.
As the day goes progresses, stranger and stranger things begin to happen. The film uses an excellent sense of timing in presenting awkward situations, it's just that the ones they present don't always segue too well into forthcoming scenes. Also, certain characters (try as they might to win us over) just don't work well into the film at all. You're left wondering why they're there and who wrote them in. But despite the chaos and confusion throughout the film, Oz delivers a fitting, if not predictable ending.
Make no mistake, Death at a Funeral does have its moments. To sit through the entire movie and not get at least a couple of chuckles is to not have a pulse. But in general, this was far too ambitious an effort for even a veteran like Frank Oz. Use caution.
2 stars out of 4
5/10
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