IT’S THE DAY OF THE BIG BALL!
Movie Review – Funeral Day
Review by Paul Preston
Full disclosure, the director of Funeral Day, Jon Weinberg, is a friend of mine. It seems like I should mention that because it will put a disclaimer on my review and that will level any favoritism I’d give the film. Truthfully, however, that puts Weinberg at a DISadvantage. How often do you go to your friends’ projects, whether it’s a play, a film or a concert, with a nervous gut and a fear that you’re in for a LONG evening? It can build up an “I’ve been burned before” attitude. With that, I’m happy to report that Weinberg has fashioned a movie that got over that hump for me with solid storytelling and fun characters.
Weinberg stars, too, as Scott, a noted hypochondriac who discovers a lump on one of his testicles on the same day he’s supposed to go to a friend’s funeral. Scott skips the funeral to start a new plan of living his life to the fullest. He doesn’t go skydiving and run with the bulls in Pamplona, but there is plenty of running. Scott’s desperation and self-imposed race against time has him literally running from one experience to the next as he tries to right old wrongs and dive into new experiences.
It may be a little lofty to compare the plot of this indie to Cold Mountain or Nicholas Nickleby, but those are two films I first thought of when I reflected on Funeral Day’s plot. In all three storylines, the main character sets off on an adventure and meets a variety of eclectic characters who help the lead or at least provide the lead character perspective on their own situation. In Kris Elgstrand’s script, Scott’s first stop is a jilted former lover he wronged (it continues to not go well), he entrusts a friend for further ball examination, he explores a fling with a waitress and meets a sexually experimental couple in the local park, among other adventures.
Each segment in bolstered by a good supporting performance. Tyler Labine gives another naturally funny performance in the naturally funny situation of having to closely inspect Scott’s balls. Jed Rees (Galaxy Quest) and Kristin Carey (Scandal) go for it with the uninhibited sex couple and Dominic Rains pretty much takes over the whole movie in his all-too-brief stint as a real estate friend trying to dump a condo on a vulnerable Scott. For all of Weinberg’s solid direction, as an actor, it’s actually tougher for him to keep up with some of the shot-out-of-a-cannon supporting performances. Weinberg finds a tone that he takes with Scott about his situation that he maintains, but when someone like Rains or Sarah Adina comes in with guns a-blazing, it made me wish Scott’s journey had him reflecting one of their emotional highs, whether in fits of anger, fear or anxiety.
Despite every stop in Scott’s day being well-executed, not every visit was in my wheelhouse as a viewer. Sexcapades played glibly rarely pay off for me. I feel that tone’s been taken too often before. But Suzy Nakamura has a great turn as a friend-of-a-friend who wants to oblige Scott’s effort to have a life-changing day, but only cares so much. Watching her weigh how much to invest in helping Scott is entertaining. She and Weinberg have good chemistry. The theme of time ticking for Scott is reflected in the pulsating score by Ariel Blumenthal and the photography by Jeffrey A. Cunningham captures the golden Los Angeles day and doesn’t intrude with unnecessarily over-the-top angles.
So, will Funeral Day’s entertainment value have me getting excited to see ALL the works of my good friends again? I wouldn’t go that far, I have too many friends in stand-up comedy. But I can recommend Jon Weinberg’s movie as a well-made piece of entertainment that one-ups pricier, higher profile movies out there.
Funeral Day is now available on iTunes, YouTube, Google Play and more.
Directed by: Jon Weinberg
Release Date: June 12, 2018
Run Time: 79 Minutes
Rated: NR
Country: USA
Distributor: Random Media
