DEATH AT A FUNERAL
US, 2010, 92 minutes, Colour.
Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, Peter Dinklager, Keith David, Loretta Devine, Ron Glass, Danny Glover, Regina Hall, Kevin Hart, James Marsden, Tracy Morgan, Zoe Saldana, Columbus Short, Luke Wilson.
Directed by Neil La Bute.
No, that is not a mistake. It is only three years since many of us enjoyed the British farce, Death at a Funeral, directed by Frank Oz and starring Matthew Mc Fadyen and Rupert Graves organising the funeral of their father and the revelation that his private life was not what they thought it was. There are various guests, problems and misunderstandings as well as some blackmail, a death with two in a coffin and an old uncle with toilet problems.
The script was sold to the US and it was decided, under the auspices of Chris Rock, to re-make it as an American comedy, specifically an African American comedy. Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence are both more subdued than could be believed but giving humorous performances with many black one-liners which weren't in the original. Danny Glover is there as the uncle with the bowel trouble, Tracy Morgan as his hypochondriac nephew. There is also a place for Zoe Saldana (the heroine of Avatar) and Columbus Short. There are two white characters, a rather ineffectual Luke Wilson who pines for Zoe Saldana who is not interested in him because she is concerned about her fiance who has been given a halluinogenic drug instead of an aspirin and causes embarrassment and several kerfuffles. James Marsden gives an enthusiastically funny performance.
After the right coffin is delivered to the house after a driving error, the preacher starts but there are many interruptions. The main one is the arrival of short-statured Peter Dinklage (who played the same role in the British original) who brings the proceedings into crisis, a fight, a collapse and a what do with the body and how can we avoid anybody seeing what has happened.
It is the same as the original but different (as are most interpretations of a common text). The same characters and situations but a different tone with the American humour. Both are enjoyable comedies – funny, but not exactly refined.
1. How entertaining? As a black comedy? Afro- American comedy?
2. As a remake, the quality of the first film? A reimagining of the original? The transition from quiet British to loud Americans?
3. The credits, the funerals, the wrong turns, a film of wrong turns?
4. The wrong body, Aaron and his reaction, his wife’s reaction? The correct body coming? Aaron continually anxious?
5. Aaron as host, his relationship with his wife, the house and payments, Ryan and the clashes, the jealousies, Ryan and his success? The behaviour of the two brothers? Chris Rock in a more serious role, yet his one-liners? Martin Lawrence also more serious?
6. The range of guests, their journeys, Uncle Russell and his driver, the handicap? Elaine and Oscar, her brother Jeff? The others?
7. The minister, his trying to preside, the viewing of the body, the assembling, the postponement, his growing anxiety, the final ceremony?
8. Frank and his arrival, people’s puzzle? His being noticed, not noticed? His talking with Aaron, the truth, the photo evidence, the shock, the decision to pay the money? Aaron not having it? Ryan’s resistance? Aaron and his arguments with his wife? Frank and his standing firm, demanding the money? The nature of the relationship, friendship, love?
9. Uncle Russell, crankiness, with Norman? Wanting to go to the toilet? The scatological elements of his going to the toilet, Norman helping him? Too much for the film or not?
10. Ryan, his attraction towards the young girl, her age, his situation, books, success, money? The arguments? His reaction to Frank?
11. Norman, his hypochondria, asking the doctor his opinion, wanting to take the pills, the bodily function jokes?
12. The confrontation of Frank, tying him up, hiding him? His getting loose, his fall, seemingly dead? Hiding the body, keeping people out of the room, getting people outside? Transferring the body to the coffin?
13. Oscar, his relationship with Elaine, her hesitations? Nerves, the drugs? His hallucinating, what he said, what he did, grin, naked on the roof, hanging from the roof, the rescue? His disturbing the funeral, saying the coffin moved?
14. Derek, friend, in love with Elaine, arguing with her, his being ousted?
15. The mother, her upset, the news about her husband?
16. The closing of the coffin, the minister and his attempt to have the funeral?
17. The coffin opening, Frank emerging, the shock?
18. The resolution – and the impact of the comedy as an American version of restrained British humour?
