Funny Man (1994)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Fantastic!

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

"Funny Man" is most likely an abhorrent oddity to the more serious & 'intelligent' horror fan amongst the audience and pretty much a fun ride to those who enjoy a loose horror cannon with blood fodder every now and then. It's like Ken Russell's "Gothic" meets "Spookies" on acid without the monsters but with gore and a villain that's a cross between Leprechaun or Rumpelstiltskin (just pick your favorite ) and Freddy Krueger. Virtually no plot, but rather a rigging together of insane gags, with a few effectively gory bits thrown in the mix that would have been very suitable in early Peter Jackson/Sam Raimi movies. So, you may take that as a compliment. Obviously, the absurd - and often pretty dumb - humor is something you'll have to tolerate. Either you fly with it, or you'll get annoyed by it. Christopher Lee makes a cameo appearance that feels much like just a narrator's part in the wraparound story of some B-horror anthology film. And as nothing more than a cameo, his contribution oddly enough works like a silly charm, almost. Because, well, "Funny Man" is a British nonsensical B-horror flick made with enthusiasm, a fair amount of creativity and perfectly acceptable little rippings-off left & right. It's all not to be taken seriously at all. If you do, you're on the wrong track.

I'm a sucker for things bizarre. So when I first saw the cover of Funny Man a few years back I was instantly drawn to it. But with incredibly mixed reviews I was pretty hesitant to dish out the big bucks to attain it. Well, I finally got my hands on Funny Man, and I'm unhappy to say, it wasn't worth the wait.Funny Man is about this evil Joker lookin' character that resides in this huge mansion. A family and then a group of hitch-hikers make their way to the mansion, and unbeknownst to them they are all about to meet the Funny Man, and their demise. It's really that simple. The flick is basically just a means to show the Funny Man kill people in unique and funny ways. Too bad they weren't very unique or that funny.The flick severely disappoints in the laugh department. It's a very silly and over-the-top type flick, which usually for this guy is the right ingredients for some good laughs, but not with this script or these actors. Funny Man is occasionally smirk worthy but rarely ever anything more. The actor playing him does a pretty good job as the character, but, it's just not very interesting. We don't know why he lives there, or why he's a killer. And not until the end, does a serious tone present itself where and it gives you a tiny clue into Funny Man's existence. It's just who he is. That's it. And there's this very intriguing world mysterious village that Funny Man lives in underneath the mansion, but it's not even slightly talked about. Again, another missed opportunity. If the movie focused a little more on the Funny Man's back-story, the movie would have had a much more interesting sub-plot. But instead we have a crappy, awful sub-plot concerning a washed up guitarist, and a pretty generic character with a mysterious Jamaican woman who instantly knows about the Funny Man's evil presence. Oh and she has a gun....for a hand, but it ain't as cool as you'd think. The film is also incredibly 'British. But just because it's full of British sayings and silly gags doesn't make it instantly funny. Hell, they didn't even make fun of the British's teeth in the flick. Now that would have been funny! There are far more funnier flicks than this that have come out of Britain, and it doesn't take a genius to "get" British humor, I enjoy it to a high degree, but this just doesn't cut it.The flick barely does anything above average and mostly just exists to have a weirdo character kill a bunch of people. Sure some of the deaths were kinda cool, a couple smiles and giggles were okay but overall, it wasn't enough to make this film entertaining. Shame too, cause the flick felt like it had a lot of potential. Oh well. Give it a shot if you're into horror/comedies, but don't expect anything great. 4.5 outta 10

This film needed polishing. It just never seems to get going. although maybe that is the point. I would have preferred to have some deeper explanation than Christopher Lee playing cards in an asylum.The victims are so stupid, it could have been set in Troma land. I would have hoped that the victims would at least put up a fight and not just sit / stand there and take it. We don't care about the victims (which is not necessarily a bad thing). Unfortunately, there is little encouragement to side with the Jester and we are merely observers in someone's wandering vision.In 10 years time, maybe someone will remake it and put more emphasis behind the ideas and give the film some impetus.

I saw this film many years ago, 1994/5 I think, and have been looking to purchase it ever since. I have checked out HMV, Virgin etc, but they do not stock it. I have check every second hand film store I have ever seen.The film was great. If I can buy a copy from anyone, I would be well chuffed. Buying the original would be better. If you have it, let me know.As a film, it was "whacky-lad-horror-humour". Bizarre and fun.I watched with a few friends. Some thought it was mince, some loved it. I loved it, as a guide, I love Jerry Sadowitz, Bill Hicks, Rage Against the Machine, Arab Strap, Old Boy (Oh Dae-Su) and Donnie Darko.A lost gem, which deserves more viewers, as those who view it, laugh.