frustrating

Film Eulogy (2004) is frustrating because on the one hand there's a laid back, engrossing comedy drama about grown up siblings gathering together with their families at their mother's home for the funeral of their patriac that is weirdly derailed throughout by unfunny slapstick. There's nothing here that might not have been fixed by an extra draft of the screenplay and more thoughtful editing. In the main, the film is saved from unwatchability by the performances of the spirited and amazingly rich ensemble cast, particularly Zooey Dechamel as the granddaughter who is puzzling about what to write in the eulogy. Actually it's weird seeing the likes of Hank Azaria, Famke Janssen, Glenne Headly and Debra Winger (who's almost unrecognizable) doing such great work in a film that went straight to dvd in the UK. To be honest, it's actually probably worth seeing for the identical twin kids who were obviously written to be Bart Simpson squared and end up stealing many scenes -- including the 'buriel' itself.