Big Shot's Funeral represents something of an anomaly for a Eastern/Western production. It's not an action movie, nor a sappy period drama. Rather, it's a comedy that manages to keep being light and fun despite being a bit of a cautionary tale about the growing state of capitalism is modern China.

The capitalism here comes into play when Yoyo (Ge You) and Judy (Rosamund Kwan), who are assistants to the prestigious director Tyler (Donald Sutherland), must begin taking care of his last wish, a "comedy funeral", after the film-maker slips into a coma. Strapped for cash to throw the lavish event, Yoyo comes up with the idea of selling the advertising rights to the funeral, which turns the event into an international media frenzy.

Even though Big Shot's Funeral definitely has a obvious point to get across about mass media on the Mainland, as well as some other small ones about the growth of organized crime and the continued ills of piracy, it never feels preachy or heavy-handed. This is a nice change of pace from many other recent Mainland pictures, which try and bring home their pseudo-ethical/nationalistic messages with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer to the face.

While the proceedings are really never laugh-out-loud funny, at least they're not the overacting, loud, and intellectually insulting drivel many Chinese comedies can come off as, at least to Western audiences. The matters are helped along by the performances of the actors and the chemistry between them, especially Ge You and Donald Sutherland, who form a believable and enjoyable "East meets West" relationship that never feels too cliched.

Sadly, especially considering it was one of her last film roles before her retirement in 2005, Rosamund Kwan is dubbed in both her English and Mandarin dialogue. At any rate, even though the overall level of Big Shot's Funeral couldn't considered to be great, it's still enjoyable enough to check out if you want a change of pace from martial arts and Triad shenanigans.

RATING: 6