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Tuesday, Oct 07, 2008
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Two funny comedies |
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| Two funny comedies | ||
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Movies that will have you laughing so hard,
you might piss your pants by Rajkhet Dirzhud-Rashid - SGN A&E Writer Death at a Funeral Directed by Frank Oz Starring Matthew McFayden. Peter Dinklage, Alan Tudyk, Ewen Bremer Daisy Donovan, Keeley Hawes, Anday Nyman, Jane Asher, Kris Marshall and Rupert Graves Opened August 17th Mr. Bean's Holiday Directed by Steve Bendelack Starring Rowan Atkinson, Willem Dafoe Opens August 24th Probably by now you've read some of the rather shrill and too cerebral reviews of the hilarious comedy, Death at a Funeral, and think this is one to sit out. You'll miss something rare and wonderful if you do. And believe me, not everyone who sees this delightful little gem will like it (British humor is an acquired taste, believe me, and Seattleites don't seem to like Britcoms, let alone have senses of humor!). Still, for you who do like your comedy in the vein of 'Benny Hill', or the wonderfully funny, 'Good Neighbors', (one of the older and alas, now gone, PBS shows), then Death at a Funeral will be your cup of tea. From the moment the film opens, with the eldest son having to deal with a mix-up by the funeral home-they open the casket to find it's the wrong man they've brought-to the side splittingly funny shenanigans that follow, this is a film that'll have you in stitches. In fact, I loved the film so much, and laughed so hard, I literally pissed my pants, a little. And the characters, who are so charmingly British in that deadpan, hysterical way that the British have in these comedies, are definitely memorable. I particularly loved the drug dealer/chemist brother, who ends up having his 'product' ingested by poor Simon (Alan Tudyk), who is urged to calm down by his girlfriend. Only the two don't know that what they think is valium, is really a new, more powerful acid. Let the hijinks begin, and believe me, everything that could go wrong at this funeral does, after poor Simon starts to 'trip' out of his mind. At once moving and completely hysterical, Death at a Funeral is one of the best comedies I've seen from the British Isles since 'Danny Deckchair' kept me giggling several years ago. Ignore the bad press it's gotten and to see it for yourself. Only do take an open mind and a sense of humor, because some of the scatological scenarios in this film are a little over the top. Another comedy that might not fly with those who don't 'get' 'Mr. Bean' (the character created by Rowan Atkinson, and loved by many), is the newest film, featuring this lovable 'everyman'. In Mr. Bean's Holiday, this time the bumbling, seldom talking 'Bean' is off to the French Riviera, after winning a vacation package at a church raffle. Excited at the prospect of leaving rainy, cold London in June (sound familiar?), Bean travels by train, documenting every little movement, even training his digital camera lens on little things, and his own facial expressions. So caught up in this adventure of travel is he, that he falls into several situations unthinkingly, ending up being sought for a supposed kidnapping of a Russian movie maker's son, and hooking up with a pretty actress on her way to the same place he, Bean, is going. Cannes. Only she's going to a film premiere and he only wants to get to the beach. And of course, being the kooky 'Mr. Bean', nothing is easy, so there are scenarios so funny and ridiculous you have to see the film for yourself to see how funny they are. A film that can easily be enjoyed by the whole family, Mr. Bean's Holiday is a welcome respite from the violent, overdone and worked over sequels, action flicks and endlessly depressing fare that Hollywood's been putting out here lately. Go, take some friends, get a giant bag of popcorn and enjoy this homage to both the great Buster Keaton, and so many who came after him, who were good at the physical comedy 'Mr. Bean' has made so popular in recent years. |
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