Frank Oz directs this uproariously funny film that puts the ‘fun’ in funeral, and amps up the hilarity by setting it in England. There’s just something horrendously funny about things going wrong around Brits, as they try to maintain some manner of decorum, dignity and civility.

Daniel (Matthew Macfadyen) is mourning the loss of his father, and today is the day of the funeral. There’s a troubling omen right from the outset that this is not going to be a good day, and things are complicated immediately by the lives that are still going on around the memorial.

Daniel and his wife, Jane (Keeley Hawes) are planning to put a down payment on a flat away from his mother, Sandra (Jane Asher). His successful brother, Robert (Rupert Graves) is ‘unable’ to pay for his half of the funeral, despite being a prominent novelist.

His cousin, Martha (Daisy Donovan) is bringing her fiancee, the nervous Simon (a scene-stealing Alan Tudyk, replete with proper UK accent), who has mistakenly taken some of Martha’s brother’s Troy’s (Kris Marshall) drugs.

The wheelchair bound Uncle Alfie (Peter Vaughn) is a crotchety old guy who is causing all manner of problems. And then there’s Pete (Peter Dinklage), an unknown to the family who is about to cause all manner of issues because of his relationship with Daniel’s deceased father.

Everyone is hilariously on point here, everyone has a bit of a character arc, and Dinklage and Tudyk simply own everything that is happening on-screen.

Brazen, blatant and often gut-bustingly funny, this movie is a comedy classic. Yes, there was an unneeded American remake. No, you do not need to see it. You can’t improve on a classic, and this one is definitely that. From the line delivery to the physical comedy, this one is just a joy from it’s opening frame, to its last credit.

Everyone gets a chance to shine, Oz is not only able to juggle all the physical humour and comedy, but also let each of the characters breathe. And every time you think it can’t possibly get worse for anyone, the script by Dean Craig turns it up a notch.

Some comedies can be hit and miss, some you really need to be in a mood for, this one just hits right from the get-go. And I don’t think I watch this one as often as I should. I remember when it first came to home video, and I don’t think I’d seen it since, to my huge regret.

If you’ve never seen it, you’re in for a real treat (Alan Tudyk is brilliant on every level). And if you’ve not seen it for a while, perhaps it’s time for a revisit?