“Tea can do many things, Jane, but it can’t bring back the dead.”

Justin’s rating: My review was an exceptional review!

Justin’s review: There’s something about the distinctly British posture and attitude that makes for a unique comedy experience that no other culture can produce — yet often try. Take 2007’s Death at a Funeral, which was so well-liked that it was then remade four times in the years since.

Director Frank Oz — Yoda himself — helmed this focused look at a British funeral that gradually and terrifyingly goes off the rails one afternoon. The family patriarch has passed away, and what should be a dignified service at home spirals into dignified chaos.

A bottle of not-really-valium makes the rounds, a secret lover decides this is the best time to blackmail the family, a one-night-stand tries to reconnect with a woman who’s not having it, two brothers bring all of their simmering grievances to bear, a hypochondriac has the worst day of his life, and Alan Tudyk gets bonkers stoned out of his gourd. Accidentally.

I’d held onto this movie for a day when I needed a good comedy, because that’s what I heard this movie was — a good comedy. Some people think it’s the best thing England’s made since Four Weddings and a Funeral and hate the American version, some people think it’s boring and love the American version, and some people just won’t shut up about the World Cup this year even though not everyone is into soccer. I’m sorry, we don’t have to pretend we all are.

Anyway, it is a good movie. It’s not quite the rollicking laugh-out-loud riot I was led to believe, but it starts with an affable quirky tone and keeps that going as it builds upon this family tragedy in silly ways. It’s quick — barely 90 minutes — and very focused on the singular setting. The funeral continually getting derailed put many of these prim and proper people into a pressure cooker, and little hissed statements or passive-aggressive moves aren’t enough to release the tension. It’s going to explode, and that’s good for us viewing at home.

Alan Tudyk absolutely steals the show here with his amazing physical comedy, but I did like how we got to know a pretty wide cast of characters fairly well by the time all was said and done. Some day I might seek out the Americanized version, but for now, I feel content that I finally have put this six feet underground.

Heather’s rating: If you’ve always wanted to see Alan Tudyk butt — and lots of it — this is your movie. Even if you haven’t, it’s still your movie.

Heather’s review: Raise your hand if you heard of this movie when it first came out. Really? Is that it? Its pathetic how promoting  little gems like this get dropped in favor of big, vapid, flashy films. Okay I’m continuing the review. So… you can put your hand down now. Honestly, do you do everything anyone tells you? Oh. Well then I wish for you to drop off a huge bag of money and a lifetime supply of Jelly Bellys.

Ahem — Death At A Funeral! This movie is full of great actors and focuses on more than just a couple of people. It has the audience closely watching no less than six people as they try to deal with all manner of crazy.

There’s Howard, who gets shoveled with watching after a very rude, angry Uncle Alfie. Alfie himself delights in causing grief for everyone around him from the comfort of his wheelchair. Justin had a one-night stand with Martha and now insists on throwing himself in front of her, wagging his hips and slicking back his oily hair whenever he can chase her down. Martha, who has made it clear she isn’t interested, is too busy chasing after her fiancé Simon to deal with Justin’s crap. Simon needs chasing because Martha gave him Valium to relax his nerves but it turns out it was a strong hallucinogenic concocted by Martha’s brother.

I haven’t even touched on the fact that Daniel and his brother have a funeral to keep in act as a very short, determined man threatens to disclose some very scandalous information about their deceased father unless they pay him a tidy sum. The blackmailer get his, and while you could probably see what they decide to do with him coming form a mile away, it’s hilarious. This is the epitome of what dark humor should be — you’re laughing so hard and yet all the time feel as if you really shouldn’t be laughing at all.

And then there’s the American remake of this movie, coming out just three years after the original.  It stars Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, and that guy who played Cyclops. In my opinion, it’s a completely needless remake. My annoyance with it is that Hollywood is consistently pandering to audiences and spoon-feeding us our comedy, lacing it with heavy doses of slapstick and scatological humor. We’ve been conditioned to scratch our heads when we’re shown the subtlety of an awkward situation and intelligent jokes, but laugh uproariously when someone gets kicked in the crotch.

Don’t get me wrong — the British Death at a Funeral has its instances of poop jokes and “haha he’s naked!” but that’s not its focus and certainly not its strong point. The movie manages a nice balance between physical and intellectual humor. The remake is toilet humor, racist jokes, people getting punched out, and a Jackie Chan crack thrown in to remind us that Chris Rock did those Rush Hour movies. Why?

Give 2007’s Death At a Funeral a rent. It’s a great example of the dry sarcasm and awkward situations that make shows like The Office so great, and everyone in the movie turns in terrific performances.

Intermission!

• You’re never going to make an enemy out of me by doing an animated map as an intro
• A case of “wrong casket,” oops
• When you’re studying to be a pharmacist, you have pills all over your apartment.
• The music is whimsical and soothing and a little cheeky, perfect for this
• “Was there a dog in here just now?”
• Alfie is a poker, watch out
• Pushing a wheelchair on gravel is tough
• “The coffin is moving, I tell you!”
• “That was awful, landing in front of your mum like a dead trout.”
• The next time I take toilet paper off a roll, I’ll say, “Join the others! Join the others!”
• “I was drunk out of my mind, you could’ve been a donkey!”
• That giant fake grin is terrifying
• “Hi Reverend! How is God today?”