| Description : | Funny Bones, directed by Peter Chelsom (Hear My Song), is a weird but intriguing comedy with a particularly dark edge. Oliver Platt plays a would-be comedian, the son of a major comedy star (Jerry Lewis); Dad's reputation even overshadows his son's Las Vegas debut. After that flop the son tries to go back to his roots and heads for his father's launch pad in Blackpool, England. There, he meets his previously unknown half-brother (Lee Evans), a bizarre comedy savant who teaches him a thing or two about taking risks to get laughs, and discovers a secret about how his father got started. Platt is likably lost and Lewis is perfectly overbearing, but the real find here is Evans, a rubber-faced, protean comic with always-surprising material. --Marshall Fine |
Reviews :
{ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 } | Supllement to other reviews
I enjoy repeat views of this movie, as I know that I will find unexpected humor that I missed. TIPS: 1) If you purchase this video and not have seen it before, then you should skip the great review entitled "for those who don't "get" Funnybones - instead, you should experience it first on your own. 2) ALSO, SKIP MY LAST SENTENCES. Read them AFTER you view the film; for starters, allow yourself to be baffled or surprised in some spots, and I envy your first experience. 3) BUT DO THIS: put your TV on closed captions at the ultimate and final circus scene at the sway pole, as you might not otherwise understand the thick British accent for the movie's final lines -an important conclusion.
NOW FOR THE DESCRIPTION: This movie was clearly a labor of love: a rich, sensitive exploration of many forms of humor and the people who do it. With every repeat view, you will see something new in the style of humor: in the set-up, often in the visuals, and in some one-liners - many of which are not central to the plot - just funny! I think of it NOT as a "comedy", but as a drama "about comedy". I did NOT laugh in the first viewing, but was, instead, was engaged, surprised and touched. In later viewings, I found myself more relaxed and laughing in many unexpected scenes (the few seconds of the Jerry Lewis-Leslie Caron b/w scenes were the first to get me, as it was humor from childhood). To the critics: Repeat criticisms have been made of the underdeveloped Oliver Reed / Magic Egg plot, but to its defense, it gives energy to the boffo performances by the Parker Brothers towards the end of the film. Also, why not give the music a good listen, particularly at the rolling of the credits? Can music be funny? Sure! Mere evidence of more good, loving choice by the movie makers.
SPOILER ALERT; newbies do not read this: There are clever lines that are often quoted from this movie, but an unquoted one that really caught me off-guard was the incongruity in "Tommy! Oh, Tommy! Your father is worried to death! He's in the pool." The wolf howl at the mortuary was another that got me chuckling, and a tip-off of the humor to follow. |
