The Death of Dick Long (2019)


Director: Daniel Scheinert
Stars: Michael Abbott Jr., Virginia Newcomb, Andre Hyland
Runtime: 100 minutes

Synopsis: Dick died last night, and Zeke and Earl don't want anybody finding out how. That's too bad though, cause news travels fast in small-town Alabama.

Performances: 5/5
Screenplay: 3/5
Editing: 4/5
Cinematography: 3/5
Score/Soundtrack: 3/5
Entertainment Factor: 3/5

Verdict: "Swiss Army Man" is one of the most uniquely put together comedies in recent years, and also one of my favorites. "The Death of Dick Long" sees Daniel Scheinert, one half of the directing duo responsible for the aforementioned movie, come back to the filmmaking scene after a 3 year hiatus. And to be perfectly honest, this one didn't grab me as much.
Despite some great acting and more than just a few hilarious moments, the comedy, unlike "Swiss Army Man", was very bland from a stylistic point of view. It was much more grounded and way grittier than its predecessor, which resulted in it feeling a little unspecial, which is odd given the outrageous nature of its narrative which sees two friends attempting to hide the truth behind their buddy's death. The characters, on the other hand, were all very entertaining. They were all self-aware exaggerations of themselves, and the chemistry shared between the cast was palpable. The film's soundtrack was also nicely incorporated to fit the atmosphere.
"The Death of Dick Long" may have an uncommon title, but the content itself didn't really strike me as such. It's a film I don't regret watching at all as it does provide some laughs and a few WTF moments, but it's also one I probably won't ever revisit.

FINAL GRADE: 6/10

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