Sterben für Anfänger

Who would expect hallucinogenic drugs, homosexual adultery, human waste (literally), nudity, and much more such unexpected surprises in a funeral? I have always been a fan of Frank Oz's work and this time he directs a black comedy about a dysfunctional family (at a funeral). What I enjoyed about it is the different kinds of humour (slapstick, macabre, toilet, metaphorical...) that all fit together. I do not enjoy the overuse of toilet humour (especially the way it has been done in numerous Hollywood summer movies) but here it is within context and the film itself is full of laugh out loud moments. Oz assembles a host of talented actors that include Keeley Hawes, Andy Nyman, Daisy Donovan, Alan Tudyk, Jane Asher, Kris Marshall, Peter Dinklage and Rupert Graves. I did not expect Matthew Macfadyen to pull off comedy and here he was a funny surprise.

The entire film is set during the funeral and what makes this film different from others of its genre is the comedy and the pace is pretty smooth. Even though some of the comedic situations were over the top (in a good way) none of it looked out of place. It's the kind of film that may not appeal to everyone but those who get it will roll on the floor laughing.

I watched it during a tired evening and I thought I wouldn't be able to sit through it because I was so tired (not because I expected the movie to be bad or anything) but the constant laughing got me energized enough throughout. It's just infectiously hilarious!

Basically, this movie is just a bunch of people, from the same family, who get together for the funeral of the patriarch of the family. But one of those people has a secret regarding this man.

Now, the thing that I wanted to see in this movie was funny situations and the characters dealing with them in funny ways. An that's what I saw. The movie is well written, well directed, although i would have liked to see longer shots like moving into a different scene without cutting.' The acting is good too. Some of the character are pretty forgettable but there are some that I will never forget.

Like Peter Dinklage's character. I mean the dude was funny as sh*t. Rupert Graves is good in the movie, you know Lestrade from BBC's Sherlock. He kinda reminded me of Barney Stinson. There's another dude, played by Kris Marshall and he's like a drug dealer, dude was good. And Wash from Firefly he's in this movie, most of the movie he's on drugs, but he plays it good.

To wrap up the movie funny and good. That is all I have to say

I went to this screening expecting it to be a serious movie -- you don't expect to be laughing at a movie with both "Death" and "Funeral" in the title -- but this film was hilarious! It wasn't just me -- the theater was full of people screaming with laughter and clapping at various moments.

Alan Tudyk is hilarious every moment he is on screen. Finally this underrated actor has gotten a good-sized part where he can show off his comedy skills.

Most of the actors are British and I did not recognize them, but they were excellent.

One I recognized was Jane Asher (she was Paul McCartney's girlfriend in the 60s -- he shoulda married her -- she's still alive and she's not a gold-digger). She plays the very composed widow here. (Oddly she has fewer creases on her face than her middle-aged sons.)

This film reminded me a bit of "Four Weddings and a Funeral", but even more of those British madcap black comedies of the 60s with Alec Guinness or Peter Sellers.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect out of this, even though I had enjoyed the trailer in the theater. There had been some comments about cruel humor, which I just didn't see. The story was well structured, with groundwork laid early on for very funny bits much later in the film that got us laughing hard without hitting us over the head with the joke. The moments of comic tension were good, without that excruciating sense that someone was going to be horribly embarrassed, or hurt, or whatever, that American films seem to have. The situation is very well known to everyone who's been to a family funeral, although in America we would have the service in a funeral home or church, and we've all had moments when we want to laugh at the wrong time, or notice something a little out of the ordinary in the service that seems to cry out for comment. My husband, 14 year old daughter and I enjoyed the film immensely, and we all gave it an 8 out of 10, with some good carryover lines to quote amongst ourselves. Go see it, enjoy, and leave the political correctness at home.

I found this to be the funniest movie that I've seen in ages. We saw it today (July 12th) in Herzliya, Israel at the local movie theater at the mall.

There were only 8 people in the whole audience, and my husband and I filled the room with howls of laughter.

The actors are fabulous, especially Alan Tudyk, Khris Marshall, Andy Nyman, Peter Dinklage, and Daisy Donovan. Actually, the whole ensemble was great.

Especially Alan Tudyk keeps his frenetic performance absolutely hysterically funny, throughout most of the film!

Free of Hollywood hype, this film was a pleasure.

The wackiest Funeral you'll ever witness.