Search - Dim Sum Funeral on DVD

Cute, but Predictable

Jeffery Mingo | Homewood, IL USA | 07/31/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Three daughters and one son, from a family with strained relations, return home for their mother's funeral. You can guess what happens by the end. This took from "Kingdom Come," "The Joy Luck Club," and "Soul Food." There may be some "Tortilla Soup" in here as well. Still, I love seeing actors of color getting jobs and making that money. I do think many will relate to the family tensions here.

For decades, I've thought Russell Wong was a major hottie. Lately, his films have been very poor, so I was very happy to see him in a decent film. Bai Ling is in this too, and I just love that Asian Angelina Jolie. Unfortunately, I couldn't suspend my disbelief for one character. The eldest daughter was supposed to have two Chinese parents, yet she had green eyes and light skin. Why not wear color contacts or get an actress who looks like she could be a part of this family?

In many a film, interracial love is treated only or gay love is treated only. This film showed lesbian love and interracial love in the same house. In many a house of color, there may be more than one child who doesn't have a same-race-opposite-sex partner. Many adults of color have lots of romantic options and this film illustrates that."

Chinese American Film at its worst

Cleo | USA | 02/17/2010

(1 out of 5 stars)

"This is the worst film I have ever seen made by and about Chinese Americans. It may be of interest to people of mixed Asian ancestry since most of the cast is of mixed race."

Dim quality movie

Patrick Yamada | South Central Orange County, CA USA | 02/04/2010

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Seeing this on the heels of "Okuribito" (Departures) was a study in contrasts. Both involved coping with death, but the similarities ended there. While "Okuribito" was well-written, acted, and filmed with an involving story and likable characters, "Dim Sum Funeral" was a complete turn-off.

A controlling first-generation Chinese-American woman died and requested that her dysfunctional, self-absorbed children give her a traditional Chinese funeral. They were so Americanized it took the help of their Jewish nanny/ mother's-assistant to fill them in on protocol. The story contained so many twists and complications in the characters' lives that it appeared to be a formulaic exercise in seeing how many problems and how much diversity could be crammed into a 1 1/2 hour film. Ordinary Asian Americans didn't bring enough to the table, so how about making one sibling an illegitimate dope-smoking surly lesbian who wanted a baby, another an over-eating single mother, another the model daughter who recently lost her son, and another a philandering, self-loathing, rich cosmetic surgeon married to a beauty queen?

At least Chang Tseng's character provided some relief by being pleasantly funny in a sea of mean-spiritedness. Perhaps because his character wasn't part of the family, he did not contract their self-centered angst.

Apparently the writers thought selfishness was a virtue. A Buddhist monk experienced a spiritual "epiphany" from his conversations with the rebellious lesbian couple. And what was his enlightenment? He learned that it is better to live for oneself instead of to please other people. Yes, folks, narcissism lies within the veil of Nirvana.

"Okuribito" showed how a film can do a lot with a little. "Dim Sum Funeral" showed that a film can do little with far too much."

Not about food so much

S. Zweighaft | 10/26/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This was an enjoyable film that examined the dynamics of a varied group of family members dealing with the death of a loved one. Sadly though, I was hoping for something more along the lines of "Like Water for Chocolate" or "Chocolate" or "Eat Drink Man Woman". I wanted to see Chinese culture as experienced around the dining table. Still, all in all, I'm not sorry about this purchase."