MovieChat Forums > Death at a Funeral (2010) Discussion > Thanks Ebert, thanks for nothing.You're ...

Thanks Ebert, thanks for nothing.You're on probation.

posted 15 years ago by gary-chris
3 replies | jump to latest

I rented this based on Ebert's 3 1/2 stars.And he's not alone.It got some decent reviews from other paid critics who I usually respect.It's partly my fault. I knew that critics overrate these black movies for some reason.Maybe it's a slave guilt trip or something,who knows, but I rented this garbage anyway.
If you think I'm joking, read some of the reviews for Tyler Perry's garbage from respected critics at USAtoday, NY Times,Chicago Tribune etc.Big time outlets.
And I rented it also well aware that Tracy Morgan was in it. So I'm a double idiot.
So I must take some of the blame for wasting a Netflix rental on this junk.
Saying that's it's not funny is not even close enough to describing it.
Depressing, disgusting,useless,pathetic,sad,also have to be used as adjectives.

Come to think of it, this is Ebert's second strike this year. he was repulsed and gave one stat to the funniest movie I've seen this year Kick-Ass, so it's one more strike for him and he's banned for life.

[–] xscorpio69 14 years ago

Umm...I think YOU'RE on probation here! I loved this movie.

"Maybe it's a slave guilt trip or something" are you serious?! What (other than Tyler Perry)well recieved black comedy are you talking about??? They usually get thrashed! I don't even like black comedies, but I loved this one because it never felt like one. Hell, those Perry movies might even be good, but they're not my style.

Point being is that this never felt like one of those (perry movies). It's good, maybe even great - but to recieve the review you gave it seems odd. Don't know why you guys always like to play the "race card".

I honestly feel the only folks who use the race card MORE than Blacks...are Whites!

[–] robitussin217 14 years ago

I'll have to agree with the OP on the fact that the movie was bad.

I'll agree with you about the movie not "feeling" like a black comedy. And, that's the problem for me. Because it didn't set itself up as a black comedy, all the character motivations were unjustified, and the mood not established. There was not one genuinely likable character. They were all self-centered jerks with possibly the exception of Rock's character's wife.

There was so much going on, Rock's character never quite reached the sympathetic, even keel member of the insane family thing I think they were going for. Too many characters to meet also made this movie hard to like. "Oh look, his brother is a schmuck, what a jerk the mom is, the pastor is a schmuck, the ex-boyfriend is a schmuck." There was no more room for well cast and developed characters that were supposed to be disliked- like Danny Glover's character. I didn't like any of them.

I will say Marsden is extremely dedicated and did make me laugh.

[–] TxMike 14 years ago

I think your comments are valid. I didn't read Ebert's review ahead of time, I just wanted to see how it compared to the 2007 British version. All of us watching it said the British version was better, more charming, less profane, and flowed better. Other than that they are pretty much the same!

TxMike
Make a choice, to take a chance, to make a difference.