“Keep in mind: The root word of funeral is fun.”

Justin’s rating: Love isn’t dead, and this movie proves it

Justin’s review: I’ll admit it, I sometimes hang out on the Romance Movie reddit — for important relevant research, I loudly proclaim to those in earshot — where I’ve noticed the occasional request for underrated romcoms. I get it, sometimes you want something that’s unusual… a little off the beaten track. And that’s where I was introduced to Undertaking Betty.

This British — well, Welsh — quirky romcom introduces us to the titular Betty (Brenda Blethyn, The Witches), an affable woman who talks to her flowers and is in a loveless marriage with a cheating and oppressive dork that she met 30 years ago in school. But when her mother-in-law kicks the bucket (blame the lethality of bran flakes), Betty is reintroduced to her other old classmate, Boris (Alfred Molina, Spider-Man 2), a man who’s been pining for her ever since missing out on his golden opportunity.

It turns out that the romantic feeling is mutual, and Betty’s quite tempted to take the path not traveled. The problem is that her husband is a powerful local politician who would become destitute without her money, and Betty would feel bad about that. So the solution is pretty simple: Boris the mortician will help fake Betty’s death, and the two of them will skedaddle into the sunset.

But there’s a twist! And that’s Boris’ American mortician rival, Frank (Christopher Walken, Suicide Kings), who wants Betty’s not-quite-deceased body to be buried at his place instead for the prestige. And then there’s the question of Betty’s husband’s affair with, who else, Naomi Watts*, and what Betty may do about that from beyond the grave.

This means that poor Betty is in for a showcase of personal horrors to keep up the charade, including but not limited to rappelling off a cliff, being splattered with fake blood, zipped up in a body bag, and stuffed in a freezer.

Betty and Boris may not be your typical romcom leads, but this is not your typical movie. They’re both definitely middle-aged and not conventionally attractive, but they’re so dang cute together that you can’t help but root hard for their happiness. They’re both such sweet people that you know they’ll have an amazing life together if only given the chance.

Undertaking Betty adopts a fairytale-like tone — the opening calls this “a fable” — and there are fantasy sequences, odd title cards, and heightened reality elements to keep this from being taken too seriously.

Frank’s insane funeral director and his goofy lackey also add to the tonal chaos with his bizarre themed funerals — who wouldn’t love a Star Trek funeral where Christopher Walken wears giant Spock ears? Or a showbiz one where Walken does a whole musical number on your behalf? It’s ludicrous, and I laughed without any shame.

This was a pleasing journey into unrequited romance, macabre themes, ballroom dancing, revenge from beyond the grave, Jerry Springer, and the competitive funeral parlor business. It’s the only film you’ll probably ever see where a woman in a body bag and coated with fake blood is happily singing over a happily ever after. You need to see it.

*Who’s been trying to kill Betty herself. So this kind of works out for her.

Intermission!

• These kids are too cute for words, even if they don’t have speaking parts
• This is “a fable,” whatever that means
• CAT KICKED OVER A CAR
• “You know I can’t start my day without my crispy wheat! Bring me my crispy wheat!” I’m going to say this line every morning from now on.
• An open coffin is a “true mark of respect”
• This movie reminds us that Jerry Springer used to exist
• Casket of the month
• Christopher Walken’s wig here is… well, it’s a sight to be seen. And then winced at. He looks like a mad vampire.
• That ballroom dancing sequence escalated quickly. And then they end up in the room with a dead naked man. Ha.
• “She had something going for that Mister Spock.” And then they turn her into Spock’s sister in her coffin and throw her a whole Star Trek funeral, I was on the floor laughing so hard.
• A coffin on top of a limo is a way to go, sure
• Hearse with “OLD BAG” in the windows
• “She looks almost… human. Lifelike.”
• Lots of peering through windows in this film. That’s probably symbolic or something.
• The old guy dying in the background
• The musical funeral is the one I’d want, complete with the deceased “singing”
• “I get vertigo on a curb!”
• That’s one apt tomato splat
• The hearses racing to get to the body
• “Death is cold, Betty. No one knows that better than me.”
• “Does she have a boyfriend?” “I think she has many.”
• What’s a Non-Mechanical Baptist?