Funny Bones (1995)

An unsuccessful comedian uncovers a family secret and learns the true price of letting inherent talent shine.

Director:

Peter Chelsom

Writers:

Peter Chelsom, Peter Flannery

Stars:

Jerry Lewis, Oliver Platt, Lee Evans

8 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Tommy Fawkes wants to be a successful comedian but his Las Vegas debut is a failure. He goes back to Blackpool, UK, where his father, also a comedian started and where he spent the summers of his childhood. He starts to search for a partner, a comic relief, with whom he can be famous.

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Plot Keywords:

comedian | egg | half brother half brother relationship | brother brother relationship | violence | 

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Taglines:

A Zany Look at Two Comedians Who'll Do Anything for a Laugh!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some language and a scene of tragic violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

In a crucial mid-film scene Jack Parker (Lee Evans) appears at a small Blackpool nightclub as "Val Radio", performing a "dummy act". A Vaudeville term for an act where a comedian mimes in time to music or a recording. Jerry Lewis got his start performing a "dummy act" with phonograph records he played on stage.

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Goofs

When Tommy Fawkes gets the Parker brothers to sign the contract for their act, there is a continuity issue with the chair. The Parkers stand up and go to set up the scene to show Tommy Fawkes. From a high shot you see Tommy Fawkes stand up and turn his chair around. It then cuts to the front of Tommy. His chair is in its original position and he turns it around again to the position he did in the first high shot.

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Quotes

Bruno Parker: I never saw anything funny that didn't cause pain.

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Connections

References The Tonight Show (1953)

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Soundtracks

La Mer
Music by Charles Trenet
Lyrics by Charles Trenet
Performed by Charles Trenet

User Reviews

Underrated

This film is a very underrated gem - it cant be put into a nice little box like Hollywood always wants to do with projects. "This is a wacky comedy" "This is a dark family drama", etc. You could tell they did not know how to market the film when it first came out in the US. They made it look like a wacky farce which it is not. This film works as a dark comedy about talent, those that have it and those that dont and yes, Jerry lewis gives a strong performance (right up there with King Of Comedy)and Lee Evans is a marvel as a talented comedian and Oliver Platt gives one ofhis best performances as an untalented offspring of a legend. Worth seeing - just dont expect slapstick, expect three-dimensional flawed people trying to make peace with one another and get through their torn lives.

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 March 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Funny Bones

Filming Locations:

Morecambe, Lancashire, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$26,946, 26 March 1995

Gross USA:

$532,268

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$532,268

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hollywood Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1