VOA标准英语2010年-Solemn Event Turns Into a Free-For-All

A family gathers for the funeral of their father; but sibling¹ rivalries² and long-hidden secrets turn it from a solemn remembrance into a madcap free-for-all in "Death at a Funeral," the American remake of a 2007 British farce³.

"Brian, who is this?"
"You know I asked myself the same thing when my dad passed. I said 'who is this man?'"
"No, who is in this coffin⁴ because that is not my father."

The day of funeral does not start well for Aaron, played by Chris Rock. As the oldest son, he is determined⁵ that the memorial for his father be appropriate and respectful as the far-flung family gathers in his parlor⁶. There's his mom, the grieving widow only consoled by her favorite son Ryan, Aaron's younger (and more successful) brother.

There's a motley assortment⁷ of cousins and, of course, the cantankerous⁸ old uncle. But the funeral guests also include a stranger whose relationship with the family - notably⁹ the deceased - will shake everyone up.

Peter Dinklage is the mystery guest, repeating the role he played in the 2007 original version of "Death at A Funeral" that was set amid a stodgy¹⁰, upper-crust English family. For the 2010 version, producer and star Chris Rock moves the action to the Los Angeles home of an upper middle-class black American family, but follows pretty much the same story.

"When you know a movie's ending works your life is so much easier," he said. "I've remade a few movies and they all have one thing in common: great endings."

Director Neil LaBute on the set of "Death At a Funeral"

"You know you're climbing the same mountain, but you want to find a new way to do it as well," said Neil LaBute, a filmmaker known for dark edgy¹¹ dramas.  LaBute is director of the remake and insists he has only respect for the original and its director, Frank Oz.

"You want it to be your own and yet, especially in this case, I think everyone who had seen it really loved it," he said. "There was no sense of 'oh, we can make this better.' It's just that we're going to make it our own.

"Do you remember the guy that came by a little earlier that we didn't recognize?"
"The dude in the leather jacket?"
"Yes. Well, he showed me some pictures of him and dad."
"So he showed you some pictures. What's wrong with that?"
"Pictures of him and dad …together."
"Oh, daddy!"

Martin Lawrence in "Death At a Funeral"

Martin Lawrence plays the self-centered younger brother.

"My man, Chris Rock, gave me a call personally," Lawrence said. "When he first called I said 'sorry Chris I can't do that.' Then he sent me the British version and I thought it was very funny; and when he told me it was about playing his brother I said I have to be on board."

Tracy Morgan is a well-meaning, if inept¹², cousin in the large ensemble¹³ cast that, Morgan says, makes the comedy easier.

Tracy Morgan in "Death at a Funeral"

"When you have all these people you know you are not doing it by yourself," he said. "You don't have to do it, so you don't feel the pressure. We all knew our roles and you bring who you are …bring your bag of funny."

Among those whose 'bag of funny' holds some surprises is James Marsden, whose character, accidentally under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs, loses all his clothes midway through movie.

"It was fine," he said. "I've always said nudity is not a problem for me, but it must be in a comedy. I'm uncomfortable asking the audience to take it seriously and get naked; but if it's for a joke, I'll do it."

The nudity and drug- and sex-related humor earn "Death At A Funeral" an "R" rating - meaning those under 17 can not see it at American theaters unless accompanied by an adult. While the family at the center of the story is black, star and producer Rock thinks "Death at a Funeral" can entertain all audiences.

"I think we made an 'American' family comedy," he said. "Despite the 'R,' I think this a movie you can see with your whole family and this is a movie for absolutely everybody."

The "Death at a Funeral" ensemble includes Zoe Saldana, Columbus Short, Danny Glover, Regina Hall, Luke Wilson and Keith David.
 

1 sibling   

n.同胞手足(指兄、弟、姐或妹)

参考例句：

• Many of us hate living in the shadows of a more successful sibling.我们很多人都讨厌活在更为成功的手足的阴影下。
• Sibling ravalry has been common in this family.这个家里，兄弟姊妹之间的矛盾很平常。

2 rivalries   

n.敌对，竞争，对抗( rivalry的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The new government was torn by rivalries. 新政府由于各派对立而四分五裂。 来自辞典例句
• Rivalries could bring about pain and hatred or give rise to fighting. 竞争会带来痛苦、仇恨，或者引起争斗。 来自互联网

3 farce   

n.闹剧，笑剧，滑稽戏；胡闹

参考例句：

• They played a shameful role in this farce.他们在这场闹剧中扮演了可耻的角色。
• The audience roared at the farce.闹剧使观众哄堂大笑。

4 coffin   

n.棺材，灵柩

参考例句：

• When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。
• The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。

5 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

6 parlor   

n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅

参考例句：

• She was lying on a small settee in the parlor.她躺在客厅的一张小长椅上。
• Is there a pizza parlor in the neighborhood?附近有没有比萨店？

7 assortment   

n.分类，各色俱备之物，聚集

参考例句：

• This shop has a good assortment of goods to choose from.该店各色货物俱全，任君选择。
• She was wearing an odd assortment of clothes.她穿着奇装异服。

8 cantankerous   

adj.爱争吵的，脾气不好的

参考例句：

• He met a crabbed,cantankerous director.他碰上了一位坏脾气、爱争吵的主管。
• The cantankerous bus driver rouse on the children for singing.那个坏脾气的公共汽车司机因为孩子们唱歌而骂他们。

9 notably   

adv.值得注意地，显著地，尤其地，特别地

参考例句：

• Many students were absent,notably the monitor.许多学生缺席，特别是连班长也没来。
• A notably short,silver-haired man,he plays basketball with his staff several times a week.他个子明显较为矮小，一头银发，每周都会和他的员工一起打几次篮球。

10 stodgy   

adj.易饱的；笨重的；滞涩的；古板的

参考例句：

• It wasn't easy to lose puppy fat when Mum fed her on stodgy home cooking.母亲给她吃易饱的家常菜，她想减掉婴儿肥可是很难。
• The gateman was a stodgy fellow of 60.看门人是个六十岁的矮胖子。

11 edgy   

adj.不安的；易怒的

参考例句：

• She's been a bit edgy lately,waiting for the exam results.她正在等待考试结果，所以最近有些焦躁不安。
• He was nervous and edgy, still chain-smoking.他紧张不安，还在一根接一根地抽着烟。

12 inept   

adj.不恰当的，荒谬的，拙劣的

参考例句：

• Whan an inept remark to make on such a formal occasion.在如此正式的场合，怎么说这样不恰当的话。
• He's quite inept at tennis.他打网球太笨。

13 ensemble   

n.合奏(唱)组；全套服装；整体，总效果

参考例句：

• We should consider the buildings as an ensemble.我们应把那些建筑物视作一个整体。
• It is ensemble music for up to about ten players,with one player to a part.它是最多十人演奏的合奏音乐，每人担任一部分。