Death at a Funeral

Aaron, played by Chris Rock, and Ryan, portrayed by Martin Lawrence, are brothers with contrasting personalities and life philosophies. Aaron, the elder sibling, is an upstanding and diligent young man who is married to Michelle (Regina Hall) and still resides at his father’s house. Following their father’s death, Aaron finds himself tasked with the responsibility of organizing the funeral and delivering the eulogy. Despite his best efforts, Aaron and Michelle’s goal of becoming homeowners and starting a family has remained unfulfilled, and he feels a pang of jealousy toward Ryan, a successful writer whose works have found acclaim, while Aaron’s own novel remains unpublished. His resentment grows when he realizes that Ryan would prefer to splurge on a first-class ticket from New York to Los Angeles rather than contribute financially to their father’s funeral.

On the other hand, their cousin Elaine (Zoe Saldana) and her fiancée Oscar (James Marsden) are making their way to the funeral after picking up her brother Jeff, who is carrying an unusual concoction of a hallucinogenic drug he created. In an attempt to alleviate Oscar’s anxiety, Elaine mistakenly gives him what she believes to be Valium, setting off a series of chaotic events. The situation spirals when Oscar, under the influence, mistakenly perceives the coffin to be moving, leading to a comical mishap where he knocks it over, spilling the body onto the floor.

At the wake, an unexpected visitor named Frank (Peter Dinklage), who is revealed to be his father’s secret gay lover, approaches Aaron with photos as bargaining chips. Frank demands a hefty sum of $30,000, threatening to disclose this secret to their mother, Cynthia. Aaron, feeling cornered, shares the predicament with Ryan, who suggests that they should pay Frank since he is currently drowning in financial troubles. When they confront Frank to pay him, the confrontation escalates when Frank mocks Aaron’s writing skills, prompting both brothers to restrain him. In an attempt to pacify Frank, Norman mistakenly offers him what they think is Valium — but it’s not.

Amid the chaos, as Jeff and Norman try to keep an eye on Frank, they get sidetracked by Uncle Russell. This distraction allows Frank to escape his bounds, resulting in a comedic accident where he injures himself. Convinced that Frank has perished, the brothers concoct a plan to hide him within the coffin. Outside, the situation intensifies when Oscar, now naked and on the roof threatening to jump, finally learns about Elaine’s unexpected pregnancy, prompting a sense of calm.

As everyone gathers back inside for the eulogy, Aaron’s speech becomes increasingly awkward until Frank dramatically bursts out of the coffin, scattering the incriminating photos. Cynthia’s horrific reaction leads to an unexpected revelation about their father’s complex character. Ultimately, Aaron and Ryan express their gratitude for attendees’ presence, while Ryan seizes a chance to catch a ride to the airport with little Martina, whom he’s been pursuing all day. Alone at last, Aaron and Michelle resolve to focus on starting their family while deciding to remain in Aaron’s childhood home. As Aaron wonders about Uncle Russell’s whereabouts, Michelle reveals she gave him what she thought was calming medication, only for the audience to be greeted by the sight of Uncle Russell, naked and still on the rooftop in the film’s closing scene.

Last Updated: October 27, 2024 at 18:56