ongoing

Because we don't fully read each and every press release that comes over the transom - yes, a shocking confession, I know - we heard about "Death at a Funeral,"  and thougt with Chris Rock, Tracy Morgan (in photo) and Martin Lawerence starring and Neil LaBute in the director's chair this sounded like a good bet. Sure, it rang a distant bell. And then, when watching it: Didn't I see a scene like this once before, especially one with the same darn little person, Peter Dinklage? And not in a trailer for this movie? Well, of course, the answer is yes, we've seen something like this before, the very sharp, very funny British comedy of the same name directed by American Frank Oz. Three years ago. Sheesh. Memory ... That said, this "Death at a Funeral," based very much upon Dean Craig's orginal script but given African-American particulars and current pop cultural references by Rock and company, is the most riotous LOL screen thing I've seen this year. C'mon, look at the cast. Morgan's never not funny as you wonder is he truly messed up as he seems, both character and actor? Rock is probably still the funniest standup guy out there and one of the funniest screen actors. And Dinklages reprises his role perfectly as the secreet gay lover of the deceased father of Rock and Lawrence's characters. Dinklage (now named Frank, not Peter) shows up at the funeral and, as Rock said on "Jimmy Fallon" recently, "hilarity ensues." But this is a black comedy - double entendre intended - and the jokes involve all sorts of race-specific hijinks and just plain old nastiness. LaBute is rather good at this sort of thing, but for him, of course, this qualifies as a feel-good flick. And, yes, there are some feel-good moments here - brotherly bonding, reconciliation, closure - but the ride we take is rioutously bumpy. Danny Glover is terrific as the nasty old wheelchair-bound uncle whose need to defecate at one particular moment (and the result with the horrified Morgan) had the theater erupting in simultaneous loud groans and laughter. James Marsden's turn as Zoe Saldan's drug-addled not-quite-fiance is marvelous. Let's just say he's not drug-addled by choice, but his moments of LSD-induced odd behavior - though repeated throughout nearly the whole movie - keep being a hoot. Really, wherever the camera shifts, to which ever character or subplot, there's nothing that makes you think, "Let's get out of here and get back to, say, Rock." And that's genius. This is what you have to call an amazing ensemble cast. Not a dull moment here. Rated R. It's at the AMC Loews Boston Common and the Regal Fenway 13, among others spots. Check the website below for the area theaters and showtimes. Tickets will run you around $11.

www.boston.mrmovietimes.com