Rating: 
Summary: Oliver Platt and Jerry Lewis in a little known Black Comedy
Review: "Funny Bones" is one of those movies that you have to be talked into viewing and then you wonder why you waited so long to check it out. Peter Chelsom's 1995 black comedy begins with a failed drug deal and a pair of feet washing up on shore. Tommy Fawkes, played by Oliver Platt, wants to be a successful standup comedian but his Las Vegas debut is a complete disaster, due in no small measure to the "help" provided by his father George, who was once a famous comedian himself and who is played by Jerry Lewis in what proves to be one of his best roles (stop with the jokes, the man is very good in this film). Because of the drug deal he flees back home to the English seaside town of Blackpool, a place that just happens to be full of retired music-hall performances (what we Yanks would call vaudevillians). Tommy needs better material or perhaps a partner. What he finds is Jack Parker (Lee Evans), who is pretty funny for someone who has, um, serious problems. Tommy and Jack have a series of comic misadventures involving Tommy's father, the mayor of Blackpool, an art collector, some French sailors, and in the end discover a secret that provides a rather unexpected bounced to the end of this film. "Funny Bones" is a nice little film with an excellent supporting cast that fails to be conventional. Check it out and pass the word along.
Rating:
Summary: Oliver Platt and Jerry Lewis in a little known Black Comedy
Review: "Funny Bones" is one of those movies that you have to be talked into viewing and then you wonder why you waited so long to check it out. Peter Chelsom's 1995 black comedy begins with a failed drug deal and a pair of feet washing up on shore. Tommy Fawkes, played by Oliver Platt, wants to be a successful standup comedian but his Las Vegas debut is a complete disaster, due in no small measure to the "help" provided by his father George, who was once a famous comedian himself and who is played by Jerry Lewis in what proves to be one of his best roles (stop with the jokes, the man is very good in this film). Because of the drug deal he flees back home to the English seaside town of Blackpool, a place that just happens to be full of retired music-hall performances (what we Yanks would call vaudevillians). Tommy needs better material or perhaps a partner. What he finds is Jack Parker (Lee Evans), who is pretty funny for someone who has, um, serious problems. Tommy and Jack have a series of comic misadventures involving Tommy's father, the mayor of Blackpool, an art collector, some French sailors, and in the end discover a secret that provides a rather unexpected bounced to the end of this film. "Funny Bones" is a nice little film with an excellent supporting cast that fails to be conventional. Check it out and pass the word along.
Rating:
Summary: If you see nothing else
Review: ... from the 1990s, see this. "Funny Bones" IS funny, and it is bones, too: close to the bone humor, tragedy, and reality. Lee Evans is a genius, the screenplay is tremulous with psychological insight and artistic vision. You'll never think of John Lee Hooker's "Boogie Chillun" the same way again. Indescribable, magical, literate, forceful, hopeful.
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Summary: DVD Release?
Review: ... This is wonderfully shot, well-written, highly original film with an impressive cast and a fantastic soundtrack. ...
Rating: 
Summary: Can't wait for my copy to arrive!
Review: .
How I loved this film, one of the edgiest, darkest comedies I've ever seen. No opportunity is lost: the idea of a black comedy is driven home, from its setting (Blackpool, England) to its music (James Brown, Duke Ellington, John Lee Hooker...). There is a very dry wit, and a wonderfully executed display of human frailty, while we watch Oliver Platt's character try to figure out how to resuscitate his career in comedy. Then-newcomer Lee Evans adds a terrific element, as the questionable partner whose sanity is always under suspicion, and Jerry Lewis, as Platt's father, does a great job in derailing Platt's career and finally jolting him. I love this movie, in a way I love very few movies.
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Summary: DVD?
Review: Beautiful, beautiful film...When are they going to release a DVD????
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Summary: Super video to view more than once!
Review: Excellent dark comedy, with superb acting. Some of the best vaudeville-type scenes on video. Platt is great, with super support, AND neat musical score. You really have to view this fast-paced video more than once to appreciate the story line.
Rating:
Summary: What would you trade for comedic talent?
Review: For anyone looking for a comedy, beware. I ordered this based on the reviews on the Amazon site. This is not a comedy, although it is about comedy. It is dark and psychological with a little bit of redemption but a lot of nervous fear! For example: in the very first scene a man is pushed overboard into the ocean and his feet are chopped off by the boat's propeller. In the next scene, the feet wash up on shore (separately). Perhaps this was supposed to be funny, but it made me gag (just like most of the people who were on the beach at the time). Most of the English characters are troubled in some way - some are deeply psychologically scarred. The main character as played by Oliver Platt is full of enthusiasm for his "mission" but certainly never funny. In fact, the only part that made me laugh was after the feet had been stolen from the morgue and Platt's character holds up a newspaper with the headline "Feet Walk from Mortuary." The climax of this movie was tense and I almost turned the DVD off without finishing the movie, but it redeemed itself in the last 2 minutes, so I'm glad I at least finished it. It did bother me for a few days though. My copy is up for sale in Amazon's Marketplace if you're interested.
Rating: 
Summary: This is NOT a funny movie!
Review: For anyone looking for a comedy, beware. I ordered this based on the reviews on the Amazon site. This is not a comedy, although it is about comedy. It is dark and psychological with a little bit of redemption but a lot of nervous fear! For example: in the very first scene a man is pushed overboard into the ocean and his feet are chopped off by the boat's propeller. In the next scene, the feet wash up on shore (separately). Perhaps this was supposed to be funny, but it made me gag (just like most of the people who were on the beach at the time). Most of the English characters are troubled in some way - some are deeply psychologically scarred. The main character as played by Oliver Platt is full of enthusiasm for his "mission" but certainly never funny. In fact, the only part that made me laugh was after the feet had been stolen from the morgue and Platt's character holds up a newspaper with the headline "Feet Walk from Mortuary." The climax of this movie was tense and I almost turned the DVD off without finishing the movie, but it redeemed itself in the last 2 minutes, so I'm glad I at least finished it. It did bother me for a few days though. My copy is up for sale in Amazon's Marketplace if you're interested.
Rating:
Summary: Risky (and very funny) Business
Review: Funny Bones is not for everyone. Though Jerry Lewis and Oliver Platt are known stars, the material in this film is an unusual place for stars like these to end up. This odd little film is about risk, love, life and death. It is about a disappearing culture, and a comment about a new generation trying to find passion and purpose in the shadow of an imperfect generation before them. It speaks about the death of the theater and the passing of a simpler and perhaps funnier time. While Funny Bones is often funny, it's also quite tragic, very dark and often surreal. Lee Evens steals the show and Oliver Platt is the perfect foil to play against a giant like Jerry Lewis(Some old vaudevillians also put it some awesome cameos). Funny Bones is worth the watch.
It's worth the price of admission just to see this awesome cast.
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