Eulogy

Name: Eulogy
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: October 15, 2004
Duration: 91 min
Rating: 34
Cast: Hank Azaria, Jesse Bradford, Ray Romano, Rip Torn

2004

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 12 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Ratings

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6.8

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6.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Ratings

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Eulogy

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Movie Details & Credits

Lions Gate Films | Release Date: October 15, 2004 | TV-MA

Starring: Hank Azaria, Jesse Bradford, Ray Romano, Rip Torn

Summary: A wickedly irreverent comedy, Eulogy is ultimately a heartwarming portrait of a houseful of misfits celebrating the strangest and most enduring bond of all: family. (Lions Gate Films)

Director: Michael Clancy

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 91 min

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Critic Reviews

Clint Morris

It's more about watching an ensemble cast try to one-up one another's performance than anything else – and for what it is, it works. Read full review

Sheri Linden

Character eccentricities and off-kilter group dynamics play out with a comic vengeance. Read full review

Carina Chocano

The movie is like a promising date that goes nowhere. Read full review

Lou Lumenick

That Eulogy has any laughs is largely a testament to the understated Romano -- he and Deschanel are the only ones in the cast who aren't straining to be funny. Read full review

Stephen Holden

The screenplay is closer in tone to an uneasy mixture of post-"Seinfeld" bile and unfocused Altmanesque satirical misanthropy. Partly because the story's structure is so haphazard, most of the jokes land with a thud. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

Nine very good actors are wasted, if not embarrassed, by the thoroughly unconvincing shenanigans perpetrated by first-time writer-director Michael Clancy, while a tenth -- Zooey Deschanel -- somehow manages to float ethereally above it all with her dignity intact. Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

The cast itself is weirdly overqualified. Read full review

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User Reviews

TimG.

Apr 7, 2006

Zooey Rules! You super fun power hour girl of 2005 and beyond! oh ! Almost forgot Elf! That 2004...You rocked the house with that one too! And Famke why you no say hi to me in new york? I bumped into you three times in virgin and soho and nomoho and you ignored me like I was dirty cat in Zooey Rules! You super fun power hour girl of 2005 and beyond! oh ! Almost forgot Elf! That 2004...You rocked the house with that one too! And Famke why you no say hi to me in new york? I bumped into you three times in virgin and soho and nomoho and you ignored me like I was dirty cat in crazy alley. Gotta go.Oh, by the way These critics got stick up patootie!… Expand

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ChadS.

Jul 27, 2006

In a movie that features a grandmother who pulls an Elliott Smith in a moving vehicle, at least the filmmaker has the common sense to cut short a family-sing-along before the clan's inevitable reconciliation totally drowns in bathos. "Eulogy" is about another dysfunctional family that In a movie that features a grandmother who pulls an Elliott Smith in a moving vehicle, at least the filmmaker has the common sense to cut short a family-sing-along before the clan's inevitable reconciliation totally drowns in bathos. "Eulogy" is about another dysfunctional family that deep down actually loves each other. It at least has more laughs than "The Family Stone". Lesbians are always a lot of fun. The realness of Zooey Deschanel helps offset the comic broadness that plagues an almost unrecognizable Debra Winger and her unlikely family. At least "Eulogy" has a short running time.… Expand

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DawdlingPoet

Nov 28, 2021

This is a fairly light hearted, amusing comedy film about a family - a typical American dysfunctional family who are effectively forced in to coming together due to the funeral. Its one of those types of plots where I reckon most people could relate, even if just in part, to - who doesn'tThis is a fairly light hearted, amusing comedy film about a family - a typical American dysfunctional family who are effectively forced in to coming together due to the funeral. Its one of those types of plots where I reckon most people could relate, even if just in part, to - who doesn't have the ocassional awkward family ocassion they have to attend and they know will end up having to grit their teeth and pretend to get along fine with people who rattle them no end?!.

Obviously the main theme present is family but also you could say that acceptance and compassion play a part as well. Also opening up emotionally to relatives. The young sons are what you'd expect of young little boys - rather hyperactive, loud and distracting, if not annoying. That aspect is fairly unoriginal. I think if I had to describe the family in one specific word, one of the first words I'd think of is deliquent, or delinquency - thats ignoring the fact that most of them are adults, not kids, of course. Their behaviour when in the family home leaves a lot to be desired. The comedy is a bit immature but its not especially lewd or overly offensive, although I should perhaps note that in one scene, a family member clearly shows her disrespect for and lack of recognition for gay weddings, which may or may not offend gay couples perhaps?.

The comedy is fairly black in parts, such as with one sub-plot involving a family member who seemingly attempts to commit suicide (which of course is somewhat ironic given the main plot), although it doesn't appear that way at first. There is some witty dialogue. Some of the comedy is quite cringe-worthy, such as when the boys accidentally come across a relatives pornographic film which was left on TV. The reactions are quite comic. Its not too shocking or excessively rude. I thought the characters seemed fairly realistic, although perhaps a little comical in parts but then you'd expect that with it being a comedy film, of course.

As the plot developed, we learnt a bit more about the various characters personal backgrounds, so there is some character development. Some plot developments were quite wacky and 'out there' a bit like what a child with an active imagination may potentially come up with - I liked that aspect. There were some scenes that seemed a bit dull by the end but then my interest was peaked when the plot took a different turn. Of course with a film with such a plot, it can get a little deep at times before taking light hearted terms, which was a bit of a pleasant relief at the time.

I felt that the music used played a relatively brief/light part in the film. There is some music present but its not especially loud for the most part and so its only ever a sort of background aspect. I found myself smiling when one of the older characters was shown to be a bit of a rebel in a particular way. It was the way that the various relatives somehow both got along and yet clearly didn't get along, that I quite liked. Having said all this, I did feel the film was lacking something. I can't help but think that the script could have been 'beefed up' a bit, for want of a better term. I liked it in general but I certainly wouldn't say its a memorable film, it felt it lacked depth, although I did like its light heartedness and so on. The cast is pretty decent, with actors including Ray Romano, Hank Azaria, Rip Torn, Debra Winger and Zooey Deschanel. It came across to me as a bit of a made-for-TV-film and it seems, having looked it up briefly on IMDB, that it was released on video originally, here in the UK, back in late 2005. If you prefer films that feature special effects and action to keep your interest, then this will definitely not be for you. If you like films that (if but slowly) investigate peoples foibles and develop characters, with some amusing moments and dark comedy, then you may enjoy this.

One thing I did appreciate, all of that put to one side, was the significance of some plot details - mainly the theme of acceptance. There was something somehow re-assuring about it, yet all the same I wasn't really overwhelmed. I felt slightly disappointed, after having read the DVD case before watching it and hoping it would be hilariously funny - it isn't really but thats not to say it doesn't have some funny moments. Its very much generally amusing, with some quirky comic scenes and is mildly entertaining.

Content wise, there are some sex references and partial nudity, plus there's a scene involving attempted suicide, as mentioned earlier. There was some strong language but otherwise not much likely to greatly shock or offend, I would have thought. It has a 15 rating in light of this.

Overall, no, I wouldn't recommend this film. It isn't among the worst I've seen but in general it seemed rather underwhelming somehow. The characters are alright, there is some (if but mild) character development and so on but it just didn't feel like a particularly memorable film at all.… Expand

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[Anonymous]

Oct 15, 2004

Waste of time... script idea was stolen from an intelligent indie called In Memory of My Father which is not yet released... Eulogy is a weak attempt at an idea that could have been brilliant, resulting in a bunch of talented actors not trying to come together... the coalition of the unwilling.

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