Movie Review: "Death at a Funeral" (2010)

Seen on: April 16, 2010

The players: Director: Neil LaBute, Writer: Dean Craig, Cast: Peter Dinklage, Chris Rock, Regina Hall, Keith David, Martin Lawrence, Tracy Morgan, Zoe Saldana

Facts of interest: Remake of Frank Oz's 2007 comedy.

The plot: The film tells the story of a family desperately trying to make it through a funeral ceremony.

Our thoughts: If you’ve seen Frank Oz’s 2007 British comedy “Death at a Funeral,” you may as well stick with it and skip Neil LaBute’s American remake, because the new “Death at a Funeral” is so close to the original one, it almost becomes a completely unnecessary viewing experience. Okay, maybe this one’s a tad raunchier, but in my book, it’s not exactly funnier.

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Shitty red band clip from 'Death at a Funeral'

Neil LaBute's remake of Frank Oz's 2007 hit comedy "Death at a Funeral" is opening in theaters April 16, 2010, and, well... it doesn't exactly look hilarious. There are parts about the trailer I liked, but in general, I'm still not convinced this one will deliver the goods.

A new red band clip has just shown up on the Web, and you can check it out after the jump. What starts as a silly sequence quickly turns into a shitty (literally) moment: Tracy Morgan's hand gets stuck in Danny Glover's ass. The result is anything but funny.

Chris Rock, Zoe Saldana, Regina Hall, Columbus Short, Martin Lawrence, Luke Wilson, James Marsden, Peter Dinklage and Loretta Devine are part of the cast. The film  follows a family stumbling across all sorts of weird secrets during a funeral that quickly turns into a disaster.

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'Death at a Funeral' remake trailer is kinda funny

I still have not seen Frank Oz's 2007 hit comedy "Death at a Funeral," but the remake is already heading towards a release. It will open April 16, 2010, and first trailer has now shown up online!

Much like the original, this new version follows a family stumbling across all sorts of weird secrets during a funeral ceremony that quickly turns into a disaster. Neil LaBute directed a script by Dean Craig.

The cast includes some big names: Chris Rock, Zoe Saldana, Danny Glover, Regina Hall, Columbus Short, Martin Lawrence, Tracy Morgan, Luke Wilson, James Marsden, Peter Dinklage and Loretta Devine.

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Neil LaBute will adapt 'Burnt Orange Heresy'

Neil LaBute's recent directing credits include "The Wicker Man," which counts as one of the worst films ever made in my book, and "Lakeview Terrace," a somewhat engaging thriller that worked reasonably well. One of LaBute's upcoming projects is the adaptation of Charles Willeford's crime novel "The Burnt Orange Heresy."

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Lawrence, Morgan join 'Death at a Funeral'

Tracy Morgan and Martin Lawrence are gearing up to star alongside Chris Rock in the remake of Frank Oz’s 2007 comedy “Death at a Funeral."

Loretta Devine, Ron Glass, Danny Glover, Regina Hall, James Marsden, Zoe Saldana and Columbus Short are also part of the acting crew, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The story focuses on a funeral ceremony during which cadavers are misplaced, people engage in indecent exposure, and dirty family secrets suddenly come to light.

Neil LaBute is directing a script by Rock and Ayesha Carr (“Everybody Hates Chris”). Dean Craig, writer of the original British comedy, is on board to executive produce the project.

Morgan, who can be seen on "30 Rock," has a couple of projects coming up, including "Nailed" and "Freshman Roommates." Rock recently joined the cast of an untitled comedy for Columbia Pictures.

I still have to watch the original "Death at a Funeral," but I hear it's a wildly funny comedy.

‘Eagle Eye’ still on top Monday

D.J. Caruso’s action hit “Eagle Eye” clung to the top of the box Monday with a strong $2 million in ticket sales, according to estimates released by BoxOfficeMojo.

The thriller starring Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan lifted its domestic total to $31.2 million. Following at No. 2 was George C. Wolfe’s  romance drama “Nights in Rodanthe,” which took home $979,550 and reached a total of $14.3 million.

Meanwhile, Neil LaBute’s Samuel L. Jackson vehicle “Lakeview Terrace” earned $488,979 in third place, bringing its cumulative gross to $26.1 million.

Finishing fourth Monday was Joel and Ethan Coen’s comedy “Burn After Reading,” which rose to a total gross of $46 million after pulling $471,328.

Following in fifth place was Alex Kendrick’s Christian-themed drama “Fireproof,” which reached a total of $7.2 million after Monday’s earnings of $410,000.

'Lakeview Terrace' web reviews

Samuel L. Jackson is back on the big screen, and this time he plays a bastard who tries everything to get his new neighbors (Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington) to move out again as quickly as possible (Read my review here). I didn't like Neil LaBute's "Lakeview Terrace" too much, but I am eager to find out what other online film critics have to say about it. Let's find out:

• Brian Orndorf at Collider: "By the last act, LaBute's batteries run down and the plot slips into formulaic thriller mode, moving the premise from an encouraging place of terror to an obvious one, sending the film out on a substandard note."

• Cinema Blend's Katey Rich: "Though the movie is intended as a battle of wills between good and bad, it becomes a playground in which Jackson runs amok, snarling and threatening and driving his movie into the ground."

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Review: "Lakeview Terrace"

Seen on: September 19, 2008

The players: Director: Neil LaBute, Writers: David Loughery, Howard Korder, Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Wilson, Kerry Washington

Facts of interest: LaBute also directed "Nurse Betty" and "In the Company of Men."

The plot: A racist cop (Jackson) tries everything to force his new neighbors to move out again.

Our quick thoughts: Although Neil LaBute’s “Lakeview Terrace” is a film you can sit through without having to complain about boredom too much, its story is still too weak and unsurprising to leave a long-lasting impression. Nevertheless, it’s certainly a major improvement on his previous disaster “The Wicker Man,” and that alone is worth a lot.

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Watch four new clips from 'Lakeview Terrace'

Yahoo! Movies today posted four brand-new clips from Neil LaBute's upcoming thriller "Lakeview Terrace," which hits theaters Sept. 19. Samuel L. Jackson stars as a cop who tormens his new neighbors (Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington). Check out all the clips below. Also, click here to watch the "Lakeview Terrace" press conference from the Deauville Festival in France.

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Samuel L. Jackson talks 'Lakeview Terrace'

While everybody is pretty busy focusing on the Toronto Film Festival these days, we will keep you posted on what's going on over at the 34th American Film Festival in Deauville, a charming little town in France.

Last Sunday, the cast and crew of "Lakeview Terrace" gathered at the fest to show the flick and talk to the press. Director Neil Labute, producer James Lassiter and actor Samuel L. Jackson took the stage for the conference, which you can watch right here.

"Lakeview Terrace" focuses on a cop (Jackson) who pretty much torments his new neighbors. The film hits theaters domestically Sept. 19.

Stay tuned for more coverage of the Deauville fest, which runs through Sept. 14.