Death at a Funeral

Funerals can be very strenuous and painful for everyone when it involves those that are close to us. They can be not only be expensive, but they can also be heart breaking when thinking of how you'll never see your loved ones again. Indeed, any funeral for a fallen family member can be emotionally and physically painful. Now, just imagine you are the one who is not only responsible for paying for the whole funeral, due to your dead beat brother but will gladly take some of the credit for putting it together. Then imagine a strange vertically challenged man, who tries to blackmail you into paying him over thirty grand to keep him from telling your mother that your father was secretly involved in a gay love affair. Or how about having a few of your guests high on acid pills by mistake? You know what....just imagine every single thing you can think of going wrong at a funeral, then you'll understand the entire premise of the film, "Death at a Funeral."

Although one would think with a film based on a funeral, it would seem kind of depressing and boring due to the obvious subject matter. However, that's definitely not the case. Sure, the characters are a bit one dimensional and cliched, but it's surprisingly funny. In fact, "Death at a Funeral" is probably Chris Rock's best movie yet.

Unlike Chris Rock's other movies where his jokes are often reiterations of his lines, from his stand up comedy acts, it seems Neil LaBute somehow finds a way for Chris Rock's style of humor to shine through without them. Which is very refreshing to know, as that was always the one major gripe I had about all his films. Although it does seem a bit sad that Chris Rock always seems to play the same type of character in every movie he does. However, it doesn't ruin it by any means. As I said earlier, this was probably Chris Rock's best movie yet.

Featuring an all star cast with Danny Glover, Luke Wilson, Zoe Saldana, James Marsden, Peter Dinklage, Tracy Morgan and many others. Each portraying characters who add to the drama of this film.  Although one would think with an all star cast like this,  there wouldn't be nearly enough screen time to show off their characters and perspective story lines.  However, Neil and his team of writers seem to pull it off quite nicely.  As they're not only able to show how each individual character handles the funeral, but they're able to tie them seamlessly into each other without the feeling of it being rushed or dumb down for the audience.

Overall, I found the story to be quite amusing and comical.  Sure, it's predictable to where you know things will come out in the end, but it does leave a few plot twists here and there to keep the audience on their toes.  As I stated earlier, this is probably Chris Rock's best movie yet, as he didn't have to rely on jokes from his comedy acts to carry him, but rather his personality and wit to shine through instead.  Something that was sorely lacking in his previous work.  Definitely worth checking out for those yearning for a few laughs.