The DVD Dissection: Death at a Funeral
Posted by Chad Webb on 02.26.2008
A movie that gives us an excuse to laugh at a grim situation.
Matthew MacFadyen: Daniel
Peter Dinklage: Peter
Keeley Hawes: Jane
Alan Tudyk: Simon Smith
Andy Nyman: Howard
Ewen Bremner: Justin
Daisy Donovan: Martha
Jane Asher: Sandra
Kris Marshall: Troy
Rupert Graves: Robert
Peter Vaughan: Uncle Alfie
Directed By: Frank Oz
Written By: Dean Craig
Theatrical Release Date: August 17, 2007
DVD Release Date: February 26, 2008
Running Time: 90 minutes
Rated R for language and drug content.
The Film
Death has never been this funny before. I have been to several funerals in my lifetime. They are never pleasant, obviously. In a sense, that is what makes Death at a Funeral so enjoyable and clever. This could be considered a bit of fantasy in that such a dismal event induces laughter, but keep in mind that the characters are certainly not happy as the story unfolds. The film is amusing because of the unusual circumstances, and how they all collide in one day. In a year where Judd Apatow stole the comedy showcase, Frank Oz delivered a terrific riot you might have missed.
Daniel’s (Matthew MacFadyen) father Edward (Gareth Milne) has just passed away. While his mother Sandra (Jane Asher) is grieving, he and his wife Jane (Keeley Hawes) are left to prepare the funeral service. It does not go as planned. The funeral director arrives with the wrong body in the casket, and a small mysterious man (Peter Dinklage) is walking around staring at Daniel. He has a large secret to confess about his Dad. Meanwhile, Simon (Alan Tudyk) and Martha (Daisy Donovan) are traveling to the ceremony, but stop to pick up her brother Troy (Kris Marshall). Simon is nervous because he needs to impress Martha’s father, so he mistakenly takes a concoction of hallucinogenic drugs that he thought was Valium. If that wasn’t enough, someone always needs to keep an eye on the profane Uncle Alfie (Peter Vaughan), who is wheelchair bound. With Daniel’s famous brother Robert (Rupert Graves) stirring up the crowd, Simon’s antics due to the drugs, and the uncertainty of the weird little person, it turns out to be an unforgettable funeral.
Joining Matthew MacFadyen for this crazy ride is odd considering he was opposite Keira Knightley in the period romance Pride and Prejudice with longer flowing hair. Here, his hair has been cut, and he plays Daniel, a self-conscious and rigid sibling who must give the eulogy, pay for whole service, and make the guests happy. Although I adored him as Mr. Darcy, MacFadyen is worlds better here. Because of his talent, Daniel has depth and poignancy written all over his face. He shrugs his shoulders like a man with the weight of an entire family on his back. Keeley Hawes has nothing to do as his better half Jane, but she is supportive, cute, and believable. Not much more should have been expected from her.
The supporting team is saturated with wonderful British actors that have an established reputation, and others who do not. Peter Dinklage is the exception as Peter. Dinklage is not a very humorous person, but he is a genuinely solid actor. He does slide in a few subtle lines that add to the excitement of his character. He is the only American. The individual who nearly steals the picture is Firefly’s Alan Tudyk, who, all by his lonesome, is uproarious as Simon who prances around naked on the roof under the influence of an acid/LSD mixture. Andy Nyman portrays Howard, a cousin who is stuck caring for Uncle Alfie. Nyman was a new face for me, but definitely stands tall next to the lead cast members. He has no clue how to act at a funeral, so he walks around questioning people about his skin mutation. Kris Marshall is proficient as Troy, the party responsible for the drugs. One can’t help but laugh as he searches for them frantically. Rupert Graves is marvelous as the accomplished novelist Robert, who insisted on flying first class, yet offers no money for the funeral. He is an arrogant prick, but in a good way. Ewen Bremner is just creepy as Justin. He follows Martha around hoping for some affection. Last but not least is Peter Vaughan, who is outstanding as Uncle Alfie. His throwing of curse words and cane poking will have you rolling.
One of the intriguing traits of Death at a Funeral is the amount of comedic styles it possesses. Screenwriter Dean Craig left nothing out. Alan Tudyk channels Chaplin by mimicking silent comedy like a professional. Tudyk requires no co-star to generate a response. His is a highlight on his own. Witty banter is exchanged throughout; physical slapstick antics appear on more than one occasion towards the final portion, and the dead approach can be observed from the likes of Bremner and others. Furthermore, if drug hilarity is your cup of tea, it’s there. If gross out humor involving excrement makes you explode with laughter, it’s there. The biggest compliment I can afford this movie was Frank Oz and Dean Craig’s ability to mesh everything into one ball of amusement.
Director Frank Oz has an adequate resume with regard to comedies. What About Bob? and In & Out are both fantastic. With Dean Craig’s screwy tone, and a crew that was evidently having a ball, he shapes a synthesis of jesting fashions that is memorably sharp. A bizarre twist occurs in Death at a Funeral that is so rare in this genre. The momentum escalates and grows stronger as the plot becomes wackier. Normally, the zany qualities overpower the wit, and end up as silly and ridiculous, but on the contrary, Oz and his performers unload a furious onslaught of jokes and pleasantry into a climax that is brilliant. Unfortunately, reaching this nonstop pace can be tiring as the beginning is not packed with jokes. The story is developed so the laughs are reasonable to a degree. Like any British comedy, it becomes funnier with repeated viewings. Aside from some sub-plots being swept under the rug, this is the only noticeable flaw.
At its core, Death at a Funeral focuses on how we communicate, whether it be relative, friend, or acquaintance. Expressing yourself and being honest about your feelings are at the heart of the message. Funerals are situations where we trade respectable stories, let tears flow, and leave the deceased to rest peacefully. However, we must always be perfectly polite and well-mannered. This tremendously refreshing film gives us an excuse to laugh inappropriately at a tragic incident. This should have been praised much more than it was. Had a Monty Python member been included, this would have been hailed as a masterpiece. Nevertheless, this is an underrated morbidly side-splitting gem.
The Video
The premise of a funeral may be dark, but the picture transfer is not. The costumes are black, as you can expect, but this is set during the day with a bright and sunny atmosphere. The house is very ordinary in a positive way, the green grass is gorgeous, and the colors were all very natural. Grain, blurs, and color bleeding is absent from the video. Overall, it is standard with nothing fancy, and nothing terrible. This is presented in anamorphic widescreen with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1
The Audio
The sound is not filled with explosions or gun shots of any kind, but it does mean a lot to the film at times. For instance, the casket makes and emits all sorts of noises, and you can hear characters speaking in the background. The score is very mischievous and energetic. It suits the proceedings rather nicely. There is no distortion, and I never had to adjust my volume knob to any extreme. This DVD has a Dolby Digital 5.1 track, as well as subtitles in English and Spanish which help with the accents.
The Packaging
Death at a Funeral is distributed in a standard black keep case with no chapter listing sheet or booklet inside. No surprise. The cover artwork is the movie poster, which is always welcomed, especially in this case. The menus bring back the introductory credits black and white drawing theme with the theme playing and clips. They are easy to navigate.
The Extras
Audio Commentary with Director Frank Oz - This is obviously a more mannered commentary track as Frank Oz explains everything from the director’s point of view. He gives the history on the opening credit sequence, and proceeds to praise each of the cast members while also touching on the typical aspects of filming such Ealing studios and comedic tone.
Audio Commentary with Screenwriter Dean Craig, Actor Alan Tudyk, and Actor Andy Nyman - This is a bit more jovial and fun since a group is conversing. Tudyk and Nyman are a blast to listen to. They force Craig to divulge all the details on writing the story and all the script changes. The do make note of different set particulars and such. This was a hilarious commentary track, and to be honest, the two contrast beautifully.
Gag Reel (7:46) – This is a normal blooper reel, although someone on set was definitely getting angry at all the delays. Still, this was funny, especially since I liked the movie.
Trailers - The previews included are Lions for Lambs (2:25), Blue State (1:33), and MGM Means Great Movies (2:57).
The Film: 8.5/10.0
The Video: 8.0/10.0
The Audio: 9.0/10.0
The Packaging: 7.0/10.0
The Extras: 5.0/10.0
The 411: Death at a Funeral contributed to a great year for comedy. It seems like we received so many hysterical offerings in 2007. Sadly, this one was overlooked, but most British comedies develop a reputation with age, and hopefully this follows that trend. The cast worked marvelously together, the comedy was spectacularly versatile, and plot was excellent wacky fun. Frank Oz needed this hit. It shows how talented he is in shaping a comedy which can reach any audience. The DVD is pretty normal overall. The technical specifications are solid, and the extras are ok, despite no behind the scenes featurettes. The two commentaries were nice, but they could have tacked on more. I would still urge anyone to buy this though.
