Death at a Funeral (2010)

I see this Hollywood remake from the 2007's British original comedy film, the Anglo mourners were replaced by Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, Tracy Morgan, Danny Glover and other Afro-American performers, presumably in an attempt to bring corpse comedy to a specific target market in the States.With that eulogy complete, it might shock you - like learning your dead father had a gay dwarf lover - to discover the second Funeral stands up. On its own. Despite very little changing in terms of plot and character arcs, not much effort is required to stop comparing the old and new.Unlike most remakes, this one instantly benefits from its change of location and comedy stylings. While there isn't the predicted onslaught of "daaaaaaaaamn" additions, the shift to Afro-American affectations is subtly effective (without being quite as gut-busting as its source).Rock replaces Matthew Macfadyen as the eldest brother, and his opening jive with an undertaker neatly sets the tone of what's to follow. When Morgan shows up as that neurotic guy who thinks he has a disease, and Zoe Saldana is the girlfriend of the bloke who accidentally drops acid (excellent James Marsden), their personable performances symbolise how Funeral doesn't behave like it's a rip-off.No one channels their British counterpart; even Marsden finds different ways to wig out. When the only constant between the two films - Peter Dinklage - reprises his role as the short-statured man with a big secret, his interaction with Rock and Lawrence has more jest than from whence it derived.Morgan also scores more highly on the rambling-ninny scale than his forebear, although he's helped by getting his hands dirty in one of the only sizeable variations in jokes (here's a hint: wheelchair-bound Danny Glover needs help going to the toilet).Astoundingly, Lawrence isn't as aggravating as a mosquito in your mouth, but he capably slots in as the weak link. Rock tolerates Lawrence's paltry shots at being The Man, just as you'll be able to see past Big Momma and get a fresh kick out of this black comedy replay.