Overrated and overhyped

Fresh and Exciting

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Reviews are being over critical. Was entertaining and a good laugh. Would have gotten better reviews if not a remake. I liked both but have to give the nod to the first one as the original.

You know what, screw this, go and watch the original that was made 3 years earlier. The original English version is brilliant, so there was no need for this bad remake. If you want to look for the better one, go for the 2007 version, because it's actually a great story, superbly written. They just had to turn the film into some black Detroit clusterfuck with the choice to remake, and the bad choice in actors. Why, why, why? This version is not a modernisation, or a sequel, or anything like that. 3 years in between the 2 films. Don't bother with this American version, they followed the same script, but just added black people. They even used the same midget. Seriously, don't bother.

It's the funeral of Aaron (Chris Rock)'s father. He's the eldest son giving the eulogy. Ryan (Martin Lawrence) is the more popular successful writer son especially according to their mother Cynthia (Loretta Devine). Cynthia berates Aaron's wife Michelle (Regina Hall) for failing to conceive so far. Ryan won't pay for his half of the cost. Cousin Elaine (Zoe Saldana) gives her fiancé Oscar (James Marsden) a Valium from her brother Jeff (Columbus Short)'s apartment but it's actually LSD that he's dealing. Elaine's father Duncan (Ron Glass) does not approve of her relationship. Norman (Tracy Morgan) and Derek (Luke Wilson) brings cranky Uncle Russell (Danny Glover). Reverend Davis (Keith David) presides over this crazy mess including a dwarf Frank (Peter Dinklage) that keeps asking to talk to Aaron.Director Neil LaBute brings Dean Craig's script to the States. I've never seen the Frank Oz original and some have ridiculed a remake only 3 years later. Of course, there is a reason for that. Few people in America saw the British movie. I don't see any major problems with a quick remake especially if they use great comedians. There's also something poetic about its universal appeal to make the family African American. These are simply funny comedians doing some fun characters. Marsden probably surprises most since he's given the character with the broadest comedy. Tracy Morgan is hilarious. Martin Lawrence is funny getting on Chris Rock's nerves. There are some laughs and a general wackiness.

Death at a funeral was just not that funny. I mean if there was anything more to this movie aside from as a dedicated comedy, that might have been acceptable. But this movie has far too many names for the amount of laughs. They play their parts well enough, maybe the script is to blame. James Marsden provided the only real consistently funny presence. Call my a Kevin Hart fan, but his cameo was also funny. That's about it. Tracy Morgan is his typical outrageous self, so if you enjoy that there's plenty. But Chris Rock in enamored with playing the serious role and Martin Lawrence's lines just didn't hold much comedy.This movie was shot well but also felt too long. It seemed like someone took the core concept from the British movie, wrote a few jokes and cast a lot of stars.I wouldn't recommend this movie to many. There are so many good comedies out there that this doesn't really stack up.