See Both

I've seen the remake, and it's not bad at all.

I went into it skeptically, and annoyed at the notion that British films (or Japanese films, or other foreign films) always get remade for American audiences. The results usually do not come up to their originals in quality. But I was pleasantly surprised. A largely black cast results in a somewhat different spin to the humor. British humor is largely predicated upon their somewhat uptight or reserved disposition, and the discomfiture that is wreaked in embarassing or unplanned situations. Black humor tends to be bombastic and over-the-top. The emotional temperament of the two films and their approach to the material differs, although they are surprisingly similar, with only a couple of departures or embellishments upon the original.

I enjoyed both films immensely, and do not feel the need to choose which one I think is "better;" they've each got their strengths. I think Peter Vaughan's Uncle Alfie is somewhat more hilarious than Danny Glover's Uncle Russell; whereas I also think that James Marsden's character Oscar outshines Alan Tudyk's Simon as the unfortunate boyfriend who's been administered a powerful hallucinoginic drug. The "poo on the hand" scene is funnier in the original. The remake distributes hilarity more evenly among supporting characters, such as widow Loretta Devine's slights against her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law Regina Hall's efforts to please her by obsessing over producing her mother-in-law a grandchild. There's generally more pandemonium in the remake than in the original.

I like ice cream, and sometimes I appreciate vanilla, and at other times, chocolate (the racial connotation of my analogy is not intentional, but probably can't be avoided, since it's apt). I come at the two versions of this film the same way. Those who indignantly swear they won't see the American version are simply missing out. It's an equally fun watch.

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