Columbus Short discusses the feature film "Death at a Funeral."
Sibling rivalry, family secrets and a mysterious stranger threaten to blow the lid right off a coffin in "Death at a Funeral," a hilarious and darkly delicious romp featuring an ensemble cast of comedy superstars and acclaimed dramatic actors. Based on director Frank Oz and writer Dean Craig’s 2007 funeral farce and transplanted from the English countryside to sunny Pasadena, California, "Death at a Funeral" is a disarmingly funny look at life going on in the wake of death.
This may just be the worst day of Aaron’s (Chris Rock) life. Charged with organizing his father’s funeral, Aaron has to deal with the eccentricities of his entire family as they gather to pay tribute to their patriarch. Aaron’s brother Ryan (Martin Lawrence), a successful novelist, arrives from New York to the delight of the family and Aaron steams silently while Ryan hogs the limelight. To complicate matters, the alarm on his wife Michelle’s (Regina Hall) biological clock has gone off and she expects him to do his husbandly duties—despite the unfortunate timing.
With his strong-willed, proper mother Cynthia (Loretta Devine) watching over his shoulder, Aaron attempts to put together a fitting memorial for his father, but his extended family undermines his efforts at every turn. As they gather together to pay their last respects to a beloved husband and father, petty resentments and lifelong feuds spill over. Confusion becomes chaos as future in-law Oscar (James Marsden) accidentally ingests hallucinogenic drugs and turns Aaron’s carefully planned tribute into the worst funeral in history.
But even that pales when Frank (Peter Dinklage), a “special friend” of the deceased, arrives with some information he thinks the family would like buried along with the revered patriarch—and demands a big payday to keep it under wraps. As Aaron’s attempt to stash Frank quietly away while he figures out how he’s going to come up with the hush money goes terribly wrong, good behavior goes out the window (along with Oscar) in a wickedly funny, wildly inventive comedy of errors.
"Death at a Funeral" opens in theaters nationwide on April 16.
Also see: Death at a Funeral Premiere Photos
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