Death at a Funeral Sneak Preview at the Coolidge

Death at a Funeral will screen at Coolidge Corner on Thursday, August 2, at 7:30. Passes are available the day of the screening on a first-come, first-served basis.

Frank Oz is swell because of the Muppet connection. Then again, he gave us that dreadful Stepford Wives remake. Frank, how could you?

Oz is now redeeming his directing career by taking the Robert Altman path and looking to the UK for help. Altman turned to British murder-mystery after the lame Dr. T and the Women - and Gosford Park was one of his best.

Death at a Funeral isn't a murder-mystery, but it follows the hi-jinks that result after a family patriarch dies, a stranger with a secret (Peter Dinklage) shows up at the funeral, acid or something like it gets dropped, and somebody gets naked. One reviewer who wasn't impressed said, "the ensuing lewd madness is of a Three's Company variety."

But the screening is free, and, if you like Three's Company, then you might enjoy this one. On the downside, it's debatable if Death at a Funeral is the movie that will polish up Oz' reputation.

Here's the trailer: