By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
Who knew a film about marital discord could be so violently entertaining? “Over Your Dead Body” is a remake of the 2021 Norwegian film entitled “The Trip.” It is a dark comedy cleverly crafted to combine hilarious dialogue with blood-soaked violence that makes for an amusing thriller. Carried by the performances of its two stars, this story will leave you in stitches.
Dan (Jason Segel) and Lisa (Samara Weaving) are a dysfunctional married couple looking to resolve their marital woes by retreating to a remote cabin for the weekend. Instead of rekindling their relationship, however, they both plot to kill the other. Things take a drastic turn when escaped convicts Pete (Timothy Olyphant), Allegra (Juliette Lewis), and Todd (Keith Jardine) choose the isolated cabin as their hideout.
From his days working as a director on “Saturday Night Live” to filming comedies like “MacGruber” and “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping,” director Jorma Taccone knows humor and understands how to choreograph gut busting scenes using dialogue and situational comedy. While these elements are certainly present in his latest film, he also incorporates violent slapstick comedy that adds an element of graphic “Looney Tunes” gore. Jorma marries these two styles perfectly, resulting in brutal deaths with sharp, witty dialogue that gives the film a unique brand of dark humor. While the absurdity of how the plot evolves leaves behind its fair share of holes that undermine its conceivability, its ridiculous nature plays nicely into the comedic element.
Jorma Taccone makes this film shine with his attention to detail. It’s the cleverly subtle inclusions that viewers will likely gloss over initially, only to be reminded of them later by the director, explaining and justifying their importance. From the door key that is not quite in its proper location on top of the door frame to food crumbs left on the floor, Jorma drops hints of a major change in plot direction and then rewards astute viewers with flashbacks that explain these subtleties. Even the quirks of the two main characters are magnified, showing how these pet peeves irritate and play into their growing hatred for one another. This provides foundational support for the story while being funny in its presentation. The cinematography Jorma employs supports these elements with tight, lingering shots and kinetic action camerawork that enhance the dramatic suspense. He uses practical effects of visceral gore to accentuate the shocking violence and over-the-top comedy of these action scenes that give the film an entertaining balance.
None of the above works without the performances of the two leads. Jason Segel steals the show as he’s done in previous comedies like “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “I Love You, Man.” This is a proven comedic actor with flawless comedic timing and line delivery. His witty banter is accentuated by his priceless facial reactions, leading to some truly funny moments. He also supplies his character with an almost depressed, forlorn droopiness to his eyes and mouth that reveals a subtle, dramatic depth, similar to his character in TV’s “Shrinking.”
Star of the “Ready or Not” movies, Samara Weaving, is the perfect co-star. She is more than familiar with zany ultraviolence and dark comedy, and she even drops her iconic soul-rattling scream that she made famous in “Ready or Not.” While Weaving handles the action sequences like the pro that she is, she sometimes misses the mark with her dialogue. There are times when her vociferous speech feels forced and overacted, undermining the comedic tone of those moments.
There is very little character development written for the supporting cast, leaving them no choice but to play them in a one-dimensional manner. The lack of depth favors an actor like Timothy Olyphant, whose limited acting ability is well-suited for the non-descript bad guy role. Juliette Lewis has been known to overact her character from time to time and she does so here, but she still finds a way to carve out a special moment. There’s a scene in the final act that involves her and a gruesome foot injury that yields one of the funniest moments in the film.
Til death do us part is taken to the extreme in “Over Your Dead Body,” and the violent action romp delivers on its vow to excite and amuse. For those who don’t mind the graphic nature of the violence, you will be treated to two terrific performances from the leads and an abundance of dark comedy that will have you laughing out loud from start to finish.
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