Funny Bones

Funny Bones

Year: 1995

Runtime: 128 mins

Language: English

Director: Peter Chelsom

Comedy

Tommy Fawkes dreams of comedy stardom, but his Las Vegas debut flops. He returns to Blackpool, the town where his father—also a comedian—first performed and where Tommy spent his childhood summers, hoping to rediscover his timing, material, and the very bones of humor.

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Timeline & Setting – Funny Bones (1995)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Funny Bones (1995). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Blackpool, Las Vegas

Blackpool is a bustling English seaside resort famed for its amusements and theatrical heritage. The action centers on the town’s Pleasure Beach Circus and the Tower Circus, capturing the spirit of traditional vaudeville and seaside showmanship. Las Vegas provides the film’s opening backdrop, highlighting the contrast between a glamorous casino circuit and the seaside stage world Tommy longs to revive.

🎡 Seaside town 🏖️ Beach resort 🎭 Showbiz hub

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:53

Main Characters – Funny Bones (1995)

Meet the key characters of Funny Bones (1995), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Tommy Fawkes (Oliver Platt)

Tommy is a displaced performer who travels to Blackpool to seek unique acts, using a disguise to conceal his true identity. He is driven by the desire to reclaim an act he believes was stolen from him and to prove himself on the public stage. His wit and determination help him navigate a tangled family history.

🎭 Ambitious 🪄 Disguised 🧭 Identity

George Fawkes (Jerry Lewis)

A legendary comedian and Tommy’s father, George carries a complex mix of charm, ego, and questionable ethics. He orchestrates family dynamics and seeks reconciliation with his son, but his past actions cast a long shadow. His decisions drive much of the plot’s tension and its resolution.

🎬 Legacy 🧭 Father ⚖️ Controversial

Katie Parker (Leslie Caron)

Katie is the mother figure of Jack Parker who suspects Tommy’s connection to the family even in disguise. She navigates danger and intrigue, helping to expose Sharkey’s machinations and ultimately guiding the family toward reconciliation. She plays a pivotal role in unmasking family secrets.

👪 Family 🕊️ Reconciliation 🎭 Showbiz ties

Jack Parker (Lee Evans)

Brilliant but psychologically troubled, Jack is Bruno’s son and a key comic talent. He is manipulated by Sharkey into stealing wax eggs, and his relationship with Tommy becomes central to the revelation of their shared kinship. His arc blends performance brilliance with personal vulnerability.

🎭 Talent 👥 Family ties 🧩 Secrets

Stanley Sharkey (Ian McNeice)

A corrupt policeman who manipulates Jack and pursues power behind the scenes. Sharkey’s schemes propel a criminal thread through the showbiz world, creating danger and conflict that threaten the performers on stage. His actions crash against the film’s themes of family and redemption.

🕵️ Corruption 💼 Power ⚖️ Justice

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:53

Major Themes – Funny Bones (1995)

Explore the central themes of Funny Bones (1995), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🪞 Identity

Tommy assumes a new identity and returns to Blackpool to seek fresh acts, blurring lines between self and façade. The disguise drives the plot and creates tension with his remembered family history. The film uses disguise to probe who he is beyond the public persona of a performer.

🎭 Showbiz Legacy

The narrative centers on a fading era of vaudeville and the pressures of live performance. Old partners and the Parker brothers symbolize a bygone glory that the new generation seeks to revive. The Blackpool Tower Circus finale becomes a tangible celebration of show business, while the past influences the present.

👪 Family & Reconciliation

Family ties drive the plot, with Tommy discovering his ties to Jack and the hidden history with his father. George’s attempt to repair damaged relationships culminates in a reconciliation that redeems past wrongs. The bond between Jack and Tommy evolves from rivalry to mutual support as they share the stage.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:53

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Bittersweet Backstage Dramas like Funny Bones

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Narrative Summary

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist entering or returning to a closed, idiosyncratic community. Their presence acts as a catalyst, unearthing long-buried secrets, forcing reconciliations, and revealing the intricate, often dysfunctional, relationships that define the place. The climax often revolves around a local tradition or event.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their shared atmosphere, created through a strong sense of place and a cast of endearingly odd characters. The experience is defined by a whimsical, sometimes slightly dark, tone and a plot that intertwines personal discovery with the quirks of the community.

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Funny Bones Summary

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Funny Bones Summary

Funny Bones Timeline

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Funny Bones Timeline

Funny Bones Spoiler-Free Summary

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Funny Bones Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Funny Bones

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