Funny Bones Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Funny Bones Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 28, 2017

Director Peter Chelsom once had a promising career. He made his debut with 1991’s “Hear My Song,” and graduated to a more star-laden effort with 1995’s “Funny Bones,” but the ride didn’t last forever, eventually stepping into career quicksand with duds like “Town & Country” and “Hector and the Search for Happiness,” and journeyman opportunities such as “Hannah Montana: The Movie.” “Funny Bones” was the last full-blooded Chelsom film, and it plays like a production that was, at one point, granted complete creative freedom to pursue any bit of whimsy and grotesquerie it wanted to find. The final cut is a collision of tones and ideas, but it remains distinct in its intent to be unpredictable and oddly sincere, hunting for the meaning of family and emotional stability in the mine field of professional comedy.

As the son of legendary comedian, George Fawkes (Jerry Lewis), Tommy (Oliver Platt) is preparing to launch his own nightclub career in Las Vegas, working hard in his big debut. When it goes horribly due to George’s attention-seeking ways, Tommy travels to his childhood home in Blackpool, England, interested in revisiting old sights and feelings, while auditioning the local comedy talent, prepared to buy an inventive act to bring home to America. Settling into a seaside resort area, Tommy makes contact with an elderly comedy duo, Bruno (Freddie Davis) and Thomas (George Carl), and he learns about Jack (Lee Evans), the next generation of local performer, who’s sharp stage skills successfully mask his inner pain and capacity for violence. Intrigued and prepared to pay for a new act, Tommy makes a few critical discoveries along the way that force him to reassess his father’s career, nudged into an uncomfortable reunion when George finally learns of his son’s whereabouts, making the trip to Blackpool to retrieve him.

“Funny Bones” communicates a generational burden quite well. The opening of the film highlights Tommy’s Las Vegas debut as a nightclub performer, preparing to get on stage and slay the tourists with jokes, timing, and his own bright personality. Tommy lives in the shadow of his father, ready to establish his own name with one major show, which George is planning to attend. Unfortunately, the evening sours in a hurry, with the legendary comedian accepting an invitation to get up on stage and crack wise for a moment, which destroys Tommy’s confidence and specialness, resulting in a disastrous evening that effectively halts his rise to fame. That weight of expectation carries throughout “Funny Bones,” inspiring Tommy to mask his identity as he travels to Blackpool, on the prowl for a new comedy perspective, trying to purchase a career instead of earning one.

Daddy issues are vivid in “Funny Bones,” but they’re soon eclipsed by the weirdness of Blackpool, with Tommy entering a community that has its share of talented people, but darkness tends to dominate the town. Jack represents this local cancer, with his beaming stage presence overwhelmed by his depressive ways. He’s the end result of decades of trauma, with Chelsom looks to work in some understanding of artistic expression in the middle of a movie that often carries in five different directions, often at once.

Beyond Jack’s issues and Tommy’s presence, there’s vague business about stolen wax eggs filled with a special Chinese powder, which brings in Oliver Reed as a villain, though his role never amounts to much. There’s also some graphic violence connected to the initial egg heist that loses importance as the feature unfolds, suggesting some serious editing was required to get an already overlong (128 minutes) movie into theatrical shape.

“Funny Bones” can be a bit schizophrenic in the storytelling department, but it handles itself with stage performances and audition pieces. Chelsom is content to step back and let the comedians do their thing, and the feature has plenty of antics to enjoy, including Evans, here in his movie debut, who works extra hard to dominate the frame, working his rubbery reactions and bendable body movement in full. He’s a total clown, but the darkness surrounding Jack survives to the end, making him a tragic figure. And, of course, there’s Lewis, who doesn’t get up to full speed in “Funny Bones,” but provides a meaningful performance as a father who cares for his son, and a man who no longer can hide his sins. This is Platt’s film, and the actor supplies generous amounts of energy to the effort, keeping Tommy a live wire suddenly confronted with a crushing reality that changes his life. However, with Lewis around, it’s hard to pay attention to the supporting cast, showcasing real embarrassment and pain in the picture’s most interesting performance. Horseplay is also there, but Lewis in sober mode is more effective than anticipated, bringing some necessary gravitas to the endeavor.

Funny Bones Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Funny Bones" doesn't appear refreshed for its Blu-ray debut. It's an older scan, and there's a slight fatigue to the visual experience, but it's far from disastrous. Detail isn't defined in full, but textures remain on faces and locations, capturing the full sense of life in Blackpool, and the bruised appearance of those who call it home. Colors are slightly muted but remain communicative, best with bright primaries and greenery, giving some flavor to seaside interactions. Costuming is also a great source of varied hues. Skintones are acceptable. Delineation loses some information in limited lighting, offering a touch of solidification. Source is in fine shape, with no major stretches of damage.

Funny Bones Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix is generally good with nuance, picking up on subtle environmental activity and crowd bustle. Surrounds aren't alert, but the frontal position of the track suits the movie's modest dramatic intent, putting focus on dialogue exchanges, which sound crisp and clean, and accents are easy to appreciate. Scoring cues are fuller, with agreeable instrumentation and a decent low-end presence.

Funny Bones Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary feature co-writer/director Peter Chelsom.

• Interview (2:45, SD) is a 1994 bit from the set of "Funny Bones," offering an analysis of feature from Chelsom while co-star Lee Evans sits next to him, silently mugging away.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:40, SD) is included.

Funny Bones Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Funny Bones" is messy work, but there's enough spunk to keep up afloat. Chelsom isn't interested in creating a mainstream understanding of family relationships and the business of being funny. He's assembled a quirkier film, filled idiosyncratic characters, including Bruno and Thomas, who maintain a day job as actors inside a carnival horror attraction, sitting patiently amongst the animatronics, waiting for their cue. The cast is superb, including Leslie Caron as Jack's mother, and Chelsom does a competent job spreading focus around, starting the effort as a tale of Tommy's nervous breakdown, but ending up with an ensemble piece, backed by an oddball location (visitors to Blackpool are greeted by a slightly smaller copy of the Eiffel Tower) that provides plenty of sights and sounds for the performers to react to. "Funny Bones" is the best picture Chelsom's ever made, which isn't saying much (recently seen in theaters with last winter's bomb, "The Space Between Us"), but the pieces snap together with reasonable care, merging theatrical interests with achingly human characters.