Funny Bones (1995)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Peter Chelsom

Writers:

Peter Chelsom (writer)
Peter Flannery (writer)

Release Date:

31 March 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

Tommy Fawkes wants to be a successful comedian but his Las Vegas debut is a failure. He goes back to Blackpool...

Plot Keywords:

Comedian | Blackpool | Egg | Bizarre | Brother Brother Relationship

Awards:

8 wins

Cast

Oliver Platt	...	Tommy Fawkes
Jerry Lewis	...	George Fawkes
Lee Evans	...	Jack Parker
Leslie Caron	...	Katie Parker
Richard Griffiths	...	Jim Minty
Sadie Corre	...	Poodle Woman
Oliver Reed	...	Dolly Hopkins
George Carl	...	Thomas Parker
Freddie Davies	...	Bruno Parker
Ian McNeice	...	Stanley Sharkey
Christopher Greet	...	Lawrence Berger
Peter Gunn	...	Nicky
Gavin Millar	...	Steve Campbell
William Hootkins	...	Al
Terence Rigby	...	Billy Man

MPAA:

Rated R for some language and a scene of tragic violence.

Runtime:

128 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Canada:14A | Australia:M | Germany:12 (bw) | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, Lancashire, England, UK

Company:

Hollywood Pictures

Trivia:

Most of Oliver Reed's part was removed during editing.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: During the final scene, while the camera is showing the police at the base of the pole, a spotlight is throwing a very clear shadow of the camera, complete with 'rubber ducky' antenna on the actors.

Quotes:

Nicky: Where were you born?
Jack Parker: Blackpool.
Nicky: Why Blackpool?
Jack Parker: I wanted to be near to my mother.
Nicky: Have you lived in Blackpool all your life?
Jack Parker: Not yet.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Zomergasten: (#11.4)" (1998)

Beautiful movie, a jewel I almost missed

How did I never hear of Lee Evans before I saw this movie? He is my new idol. When this movie came out, I gave it a miss because of Jerry Lewis (King of Comedy notwithstanding -- he gives me the creeps, man), but I caught it on Sundance the other night and was bowled over. It starts out sorta weird, but then hooks you with the story of this guy trying to be a standup comic in the shadow of his showbiz-legend dad (is there any worse word than "showbiz"? Maybe "node," but other than that, "showbiz" is just such a bad word!!!), and then all of a sudden you are in Blackpool, England, being treated to (a) some amazing vaudeville performers from an era sadly gone by, and (b) some amazing performances by clowny guys (not the creepy kind), and (c) Leslie Caron singing a torch song in a man-tailored shirt, and (d) a beautiful story of lost dreams, redemption, and wax eggs. Rent it, fool. Rent it now if you have a funny bone in your body.