Death At A Funeral (2007); comedy film review

Poster artwork for the film Death At A Funeral.

Dead Set Funny by Linh

Director Frank Oz has brought together the best from the British talent field to create a film of mayhem and hilarious mishaps at a funeral, following Murphy's Law. If anything can go wrong, it will.

The plot follows the son of the deceased patriarch, Daniel, who must keep the funeral arrangements under control, while hiding a terribly embarrassing secret about his father, from family and friends.

Matthew MacFadyen is the aspiring writer Daniel, who has promised his wife, Jane, they'll be moving out of his Mother's house and into their own flat. Matthew MacFadyen is enjoyable to watch as Daniel, from being cool as a cucumber in front of his family and relatives, to a dithering and indecisive accomplice with his brother, as they plot to fight a blackmail attempt.

Rupert Graves plays Robert, Daniel's brother, a smooth talking, best selling author living in New York. Robert's selfishness leads to his brother Daniel always taking responsibility of family affairs while he gallivants across Europe. Rupert Graves gives Robert the charm and wit of a self absorbed writer and is full of ideas to solve the problem of the "accidental death".

PLOTTING PARTNERS: Robert (Rupert Graves) and Daniel (Matthew Macfadyen) are being blackmailed in the film Death At A Funeral. Image: Icon Films.

 Daisy Donovan gives a strong performance as Daniel's cousin Martha, who arrives with her future husband, Simon, hoping to make a good impression on her disapproving father, Victor. Daisy Donovan contributes to the laughs as her character chases her drug-induced fiance throughout the film.

Alan Tudyk stars as Martha's fiance Simon, who is responsible for the majority of the laughs, after his fiancee unknowingly gives him hallucinogens instead of valium to calm his nerves. Alan Tudyk is convincing as a sensible and hardworking lawyer who ends up au naturale on the rooftop.

Peter Dinklage is the mysterious man at the funeral, Peter, who has a secret he plans to reveal unless he is paid his share of the money from the deceased's family.
Peter Dinklage provides more laughs as his character attempts to blackmail the brothers, Daniel and Robert, but finds himself lying inside an occupied coffin.

Other brilliant performances include Andy Nyman as Daniel's hypochondriac friend, Howard who helps to conceal the secret; Peter Vaughan as the impatient and cantankerous Uncle Alfie who's convinced something's going on at the funeral and Kris Marshall as Martha's brother Troy, who is indirectly responsible for the hallucinogens creating chaos for Martha and Simon.

From start to finish, Death At A Funeral has plenty of laugh out loud moments, and it intensifies when the drugs kick in. Stay around for the end credits where bloopers of the main cast feature the actors having a few laughs of their own.

SO SURPRISED: Martha (Daisy Donovan) and her husband Simon (Alan Tudyk) receive a nasty surprise in the film Death At A Funeral. Image: Icon Films.

Director: Frank Oz

Writers: Dean Craig (screenplay)

Cast: Matthew Macfadyen, Rupert Graves, Andy Nyman, Alan Tudyk, Kris Marshall, Daisy Donovan, Peter Vaughan, Peter Dinklage, Keeley Hawes, Ewen Bremner, Jane Asher, Peter Egan, Thomas Wheatley, Angela Curran, Gareth Milne

Producers: Bruce Toll, Philip Elway, William Horberg, Sidney Kimmel, Andreas Grosch, Share Stallings, Laurence Malkin, Diana Phillips, Bruce Webb, Josh Kesselman, Alex Lewis

Cinematographer: Oliver Curtis

Original Music Composer: Murray Gold

Film Editor: Beverley Mills 

Running Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes