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

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

First full length cinema film of Lee Evans

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Goofs

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.

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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.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Showgirls/Canadian Bacon/Se7en/The Run of the Country/A Month by the Lake (1995)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

A comedy that is very well thought out and very intelligent. This is often difficult to watch, but it works because it has heart.

Funny Bones is not a traditional comedy. It starts off being deliberately unamusing, yet it later becomes evident that this was done not only to establish reason for the events that occur during the rest of the movie, but also to create good character development. Oliver Platt proves that he is not only a great comedic actor, but he can be just as good when he is trying NOT to be funny. His on-stage scenes early in the film were not only well-lit but also wonderfully acted and photographed. Jerry Lewis also performs a surprisingly convincing role in a startling turn from sheer comedic hilarity to a seriously dramatic role as Platt's legendary comedian father.

Platt plays Tommy Fawkes, a struggling stand-up comedian trying to live up to the legacy that his famous father George Fawkes (Jerry Lewis) has created. George is now retired, and Tommy is struggling to get his career started. After yet another painful failure onstage, Tommy decides to travel back to Blackpool, England, where his family's comedy originated. The people that Tommy meets there are strangely fascinating, and Lee Evans delivers a particularly interesting performance as Jack Parker, the high energy comedian who is on the run from the law and is also George Fawkes' bastard son. His one full length comedy act is absolutely amazing to watch.

As Tommy is holding auditions trying to find something funny to include in his own act back in the States, he learns more and more about the people living in Blackpool and about their history as well as some dishonorable actions of his own father, and he learns an important lesson from it all. He ultimately finds his place in the world of live acting, and the transformation from who he was at the beginning of the film to who he is at the end is incredible.

Funny Bones is an excellent but very different comedy that is ultimately very rewarding and satisfying. The cinematic trickery and the skillful use of lighting add to the experience, and the acting is excellent all around. The circus scene at the end of the film was great, it was tense and amazingly well done. Although slow at times, this is a great film about overcoming obstacles and developing your own view of the world, as well as the importance of finding your rightful place in it.