Daniel (Matthew McFadden) is faced with the difficult task of presiding over his father’s funeral. All the careful planning soon goes awry as his family and friends struggle through mishaps and a shocking secret at the family manor. The only question is whether Daniel can send his father off with the dignity he deserved.

I’ve only ever heard good things about this film. A black comedy that’s ‘insanely hilarious’ says the box and looking at the cast I figured it can’t go wrong, Matthew McFadden and Keeley Hawes (Spooks), Ewen Bremner (Trainspotting), Alan Tudyk (Serenity), Peter Dinklage (The Station Agent), Kris Marshall (My Life in Film). I really was anticipating watching a fine British comedy. Unfortunately I was hugely disappointed

This was obviously meant to be a farce, and because of that I don’t mind you can see the jokes coming. It’s the nature of the comedy. The humor comes from seeing how the characters react to a situation as it disintegrates. And, a funeral is the perfect setting. A dead body, a slightly dysfunctional family coming together with some oddball friends are perfect ingredients. I can imagine Peter Sellers or Alec Guinness rubbing their hands at the prospect of the ensuing madness. However, the script fails to bring the sense of impending doom that’s needed as the wheels begin to fall off.

I think Alan Tudyk got the shortest straw. His character has an unfortunate mishap with a hallucinogenic drug. All well and good, except he never gets to interact with the other characters in a funny way. He just bounces around looking dazed and confused. Peter Dinklage, as the man holding the dark and shocking secret, was the best performance in the movie. He played the character well, but had the advantage of having something in the script to work with.

Unfortunately, the only other good thing I have to say is about the opening title scene. So, I’ve had a quick look at the credits to find out they were done by Brandt Animation. Hats off to you guys, I liked the animated coffin.

I don’t think the director, Frank Oz could have done much more than he did. The movie moves at a decent pace and you certainly feel as if you’re at a funeral. I should really make a joke like ‘it’s because all the actors are mourning the script’ but it awkwardly comes close to being the truth.

It seems that a lot of people liked this film, and I might be in the minority, but I thought it was dreadfully flat and a waste of some great acting talent. By the end I felt a bit sorry for Matthew McFadden trying to play the straight man in a comedy of few laughs. Watch it and see what you think.