Eulogy

2004 Comedy

Writer/director Michael Clancy makes his feature film debut with the black comedy Eulogy. Zooey Deschanel plays Kate Collins, an unhappy college student who is made even more unhappy when her grandfather (Rip Torn) dies. Even though the entire family hates each other, they reunite at the home of Grandma Collins (Piper Laurie). Among other family members, Kate observes a war between her washed-up actor dad, Daniel (Hank Azaria); her lesbian Aunt Lucy (Kelly Preston); her wound-up Uncle Skip (Ray Romano); and her strict Aunt Alice (Debra Winger). Tensions escalate and family secrets are ultimately revealed. Kate is also inundated with the eulogy-writing duties, as she's the only one capable of such a task. Meanwhile, she reunites with old flame Ryan Carmichael (Jesse Bradford). Eulogy premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004.

Director: Michael Clancy

Starring: Zooey Deschanel,Hank Azaria, Jesse Bradford, Glenne Headly,Famke Janssen

Reviews

  • Character eccentricities and off-kilter group dynamics play out with a comic vengeance.

    Sheri Linden - The Hollywood Reporter

    19 January 2013

  • Neither ditzy enough as comedy nor realistic enough as human drama to live a long life.

    Marjorie Baumgarten - Austin Chronicle

    19 January 2013

  • The movie is like a promising date that goes nowhere.

    - Los Angeles Times

    19 January 2013

  • The occasional amusing one-liner can't compensate for the broad caricatures and awkwardly structured story.

    Maitland McDonagh - TV Guide

    19 January 2013

  • 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.

    Lou Lumenick - New York Post

    19 January 2013

Awards

No awards