This film sinks to the lowest level I've ever seen in order to get a laugh, if in fact it was a laugh the film makers were striving for. I thought it was just disgusting. If you've seen the movie you know the scene I'm referring to, and if you haven't seen it, I would say don't waste your time. It's a shame too, because each of the principals are funny in their own right. Some of the humor in the story works, but by and large the situations are over wrought and played way over the top, like James Marsden's portrayal of Oscar, the fiance to Zoe Saldana's Elaine character. Individually, you might question why actors like Danny Glover and Ron Glass would even participate in such a mess of a picture, especially Glover, who's involved in the scene I obliquely described earlier. Now that I've watched the film, I'm almost sorry I did, but at least now I have a dubious appreciation for how low film makers' tastes have sunk.

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.

Yes, the humor at times was sophomoric. I have not seen the original version, so I can't compare the two. The movie has little in the way of plot, just people at a funeral addressing odd issues as they arise. Chris Rock places the "straight man" and is our voice of reason.

Martin Lawrence, plays his brother, who is a published author. He pretends to have a lot of money, but is broke. He spends his time at the funeral attempting to pick up the hot 18 year old neighbor girl. He asks her to NYC and says, "I got all kinds of snacks. Like Sugar Daddies?" Chris' mother laments about not having any grandchildren in front of Chris' spouse who wants sex every day. During the funeral she says, "We got 5 minutes, I'm not wearing any panties."

Danny Glover plays the curmudgeon uncle in a wheel chair. In one scene he proclaims, " I know a dead man when I see one. I live in a retirement home." The cousin has a white male boyfriend who is high, but not his fault. She tells her dad he is on Valium. Dad replies, "Your mother was on Valium for 30 years and she never knocked over a coffin." Meanwhile, her ex-boyfriend is also at the funeral and is trying to rekindle their romance. He laments, "I've only been sleeping 8 hours at a night. I am at my wit's end."

If you enjoy that type of humor, plus a little slap stick, you will enjoy this somewhat low-brow production as much as I did.