Review of Funny Bones (1995) by Cyrus B — 14 Nov 2008

FUNNY BONES.

Funny Bones,is a hidden gem from the mid-nineties, largely unheard of it, it hosts all manner of fantastic British talent, from Lee Evans to the incomparable George Carl. With the unique British wit and humour infused throughout, this is definitely something special, that has unfortunately flown under a lot of peopleâ??s filmic radar.

Oliver Platt is Tommy Fawkes, the son of a hugely famous comedian George Fawkes(Jerry Lewis), however Tommy is not a very good comedian, and after â??dieing on stageâ?? in Vegas, he decides to run away and then travels to Blackpool, where his father made his name, to try and buy an act to make it into the business. Soon he runs into Jack Parker(Lee Evans), a troubled young comedian, who is no longer allowed to perform due to his dark past, soon we discover the Parker and Fawkes family histories intertwine.

Firstly, the performances here are both convincingly and surreal, delving into the abstract nature of comedy that Britain has enjoyed since â??Monty Pythonâ?? and before. Whilst not as surrealist, there is a definitive theme of the abnormal running throughout. Oliver Platt does a fantastic job as the comedian on the edge, overshadowed by his father, and Lee Evans character consumes us as we learn about his dark past. Even the supporting cast impress at every turn, full of life, character and personality.

Director, Peter Chelsom, has done a superb job of directing, injecting soul into this movie. Choosing to use the camera as a window into their world, often giving us unusual and distorting views, not too mention the absence of digetic sound and colour in some instances, rather than favouring the clichéd, heâ??s made this film his own. The excellent use of sound in terms of digetic and music is superb, doing a frankly outstanding job of showcasing the talent in this movie, without making it solely about them. No wonder this film picked up awards at some international film festivals.

Funny Bones is a true character driven piece, that has fortunately been blessed with a director who was seemingly born to make this film, and we as an audience can feel the love that put into making this movie. Whilst not all audiences will appreciate the film, those who do like it will soon have it listed as one of their favourites, an amazing film, truly unmissable, moving and hilarious all at once.