Let's start with some good news. Peter Vaughan as Uncle Alfie is fun, though not in an original way. Matthew McFadyan is decent as the calm and collected amongst the gang of neurotic wankers, until he finds his limit. The Peter Dinklage angle, is though obvious from the start, quite original and funny for a very limited time. I pity Alan Tudyk though. Such a versatile actor. He tries to do his best with the aforementioned unoriginal drugmix-story, but the writing of it is just so unoriginal and daft, that he can only keep it going for a few minutes. After that, it's endlessly excruciating to watch. In every conceivable way. Then they actually make someone else take the drugs by mistake. And a third time (though the third time isn't half bad).
They really have a great cast for a repressed family, thinking more of themselves than they should. With the friends to match. The problem is there is not a single likeable character, and no real plot to speak of. Just a random series of events, egotistical morons galore, and a general lack of good gags. There is a great scene (involving Vaughan and poo, naturally), that had me in stitches. And the late increase in pace really does wonders for the film, due to the aforementioned problem with all characters.
The eulogy really is brilliant and self-aware, considering its contents vis-a-vis the tiresome characters.
So is it original? Hell no. Is it funny? Mostly not. But it has a couple of good moments, and a small piece of genius, so I suppose it could have been a lot worse.
5/10
