Un faire-part à part

Passed Away already had a good amount going for it due to some great casting and that it contained some story strands that when done well could be easily relatable and fun. Passed Away is an entertaining film definitely but it could have been a hilarious one.

For my liking, the film did feel at times like there were too many characters, a few of them quickly introduced and with not enough time spent on them. In particular Jack Warden's, if with longer screen time it would have made what impact he had on the other characters a little more believable. The film is mostly well-paced but sometimes, like in the first half, is like being in start-stop-start traffic. And not all the situations work, Bob Hoskins' situation is very easy to relate to but felt a little underdeveloped and while Tim Curry does a good job a few of Boyd's scenes came over as a little awkward.

However, a vast majority of the time works very nicely. It's very nicely filmed and the scenery and such are lovely. Richard Gibbs' music is a good fit and while it doesn't stay in one's mind for a long time it's not obtrusive or forgettable either. The script is well above average, high in witty quips and gets wackier and wackier in a delicious way. The story is quite neatly told and most of the situations do work, especially William Petersen's personal and professional problems, Pamela Reed's passion for embalmer Peter Riegert and liberated nun Frances McDormand's deadpan Marxism. Passed Away is solidly directed by Charlie Peters and has an exceptional ensemble cast, with the standouts being William Petersen, Nancy Travis, Frances McDormand and Maureen Stapleton. The late Bob Hoskins is no slouch either carrying the film, Peter Riegert is always good value and Pamela Reed and Tim Curry do reliably.

In conclusion, an uneven film but an entertaining one also. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Passed Away is a slow at times but very funny film. Made in the best traditions of a carry on film, I could see Sid James in the role of Johnny Scanlan, with Barbara Windsor as the mysterious woman in black, Hattie Jacques as the mother and Charles Hawtrey as the vicar. The first half of this film is a little slow, but persevere and enjoy the laughs that come thick and fast in the second half, and to top it all off, it has a real feel-good ending.

A crackerjack cast helps to make this film a fun watch. It's not unusual for comedies to be about dysfunctional families, but with an above average script, and with appealing characters, one can sit back and happily conclude, the family depicted here, is more messed up then is mine. Of course, we get a happy ending, but how it's going to get there is not so obvious. One of the better comedies of the 1990's.

Great film. One of the best I've seen about families, especially lots-of-sibs families; especially lots-of-sibs Irish families. Have been a fan of Bob Hoskins and Maureen Stapleton since forever and no one could have been better in these two roles. Also a fan of Peter Riegert since Crossing Delancey. What a cutie, and perfect in this one as always. Nancy Travis was absolutely precious and the sane one (sort of a surrogate daughter to the deceased) in this clan. Also became a fan of Pamela Reed tonight. Oh, and the banjo pickin' by Jim Corr, demonstrating again the magic of familiar music, especially folkloric, to bond people together. If you're Irish, this scene alone is worth the price of admission. And one more - David Futterman. Only on the screen the last ten minutes, yet nonetheless, very memorable.

No dull moments and a definite pick-me-up after five episodes of Home Land today (yes, it's great, but emotionally strenuous). Just what I needed and I recommend it highly. Thank you, Movie Channel, for airing it.

"Passed Away" is the sort of movie that you could easily walk by in the video/DVD store and not notice. But you should notice it, and then watch it. This is actually a very clever movie. It looks at how this family has to deal with their problems following the father's death. Although Bob Hoskins is listed as the star, no single character really dominates the movie. We get to see the issues faced by everyone, and the movie leaves it up to the viewer to decide what to think of the various characters.

So this is one that I recommend. You won't be disappointed if you take the time to check it out. Also starring Peter Riegert (Boone in "Animal House") and Tim Curry.