A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Death at a Funeral

Date Viewed: 9/1/07

Details:

Matthew MacFadyen

Keeley Hawes

Andy Nyman

Ewen Bremner

Daisy Donovan

Alan Tudyk

Jane Asher

Peter Dinklage

Director: Frank Oz

Score: +1/2

The Review: It all starts with an amusing, animated opening credit sequence, the wrong body being delivered to the viewing, and it goes downhill (in a good way) from there.

It's not clear that the incredible humor of this semi-dark comedy will last multiple viewings, as did that in Four Weddings and a Funeral, but it was great the first time around! It has all the acid of a dysfunctional family gathering, the angst of love long refused, leavened with a bit of blackmail, a few illicit drugs, a sexual revelation or two, Roman dwarves, and the winner of the curmudgeon of the year award.

Frank Oz has done a marvelous job to bring this all together. The cast are mostly unknowns (to me) -- indeed, the IMDB site only offers photos (the sign of popularity or frequent onscreen time) for four of the entire cast & crew!

(27-Oct-07)

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