Ray: LL Cool J	Raynelle Slocumb: Whoopi Goldberg
Lucille: Vivica A. Fox	Charise: Jada Pinkett-Smith
Junior: Anthony Anderson	Marguerite: Loretta Devine
Rev. Hooker: Cedric the Entertainer	Juanita: Toni Braxton
Royce: Darius McCrary	Friend: Tamala Jones
Director: Doug McHenry	Charles: Clifton Davis

30 Second Bottom Line: All the dirty laundry comes out in the wash during the family gathering for the funeral of a "mean and surly" man, his wife's description, who died while sitting at the kitchen table.

Story Line: Raynelle Slocumb (Whoopi Goldberg) lives in Lula, a fictional, all black town, centered around an African Methodist Church, a funeral home, an auto body repair shop and a liquor store. As Raynelle is sitting at her table talking to her husband Bud, he keels out of his chair and dies right in front of her. As kinfolk are notified, they start to come together and their various personalities and sticky situations rise to the surface.

Marguerite (Loretta Devine) is Bud's sermonizing sister. She has a son named Royce (Darius McCrary), who is a lazy, hip-hop mindset, pants hanging half way down the butt, kind of guy. Only after considerable urging, does he reluctantly agree to pick up his mother to take her to visit Raynelle.

Junior and his wife Charise (Anthony Anderson and Jada Pinkett-Smith) are an obnoxious, loud mouth couple, who deserve each other. It's too bad they have three young kids. He has a wandering eye for the ladies and Charise does not appreciate being cheated on or humiliated. Of course, she tells the world all of her business, whether they want to hear it or not.

Ray and Lucille (LL Cool J and Vivica A. Fox) are a couple with a few major demons to conquer. He is a recovering alcoholic and her self-image is linked to being able to become pregnant and carry a child to full term.

As the family gathers at the Slocumb's, things start to heat up as they try to select the casket. Ray is mindful of the cost and Jr., who is dead broke, tells him to "Do the right thing…don't worry about the cost." Hey, I've heard that one before and while the implication is that other person will help out, don't hold your breath to collect the money.

The essence of the film is captured when Raynelle says she wants the words "mean and surly" on Bud's tombstone, and tells Rev. Hooker (Cedric the Entertainer) that his sermon should be based upon that. Bud was not a kind husband or father, yet he was still a "good" man. Paying respects to him will not be easy.

Tell Me More About It: Based upon the play Dearly Departed, this stage comedy makes a good transition to film with it's broad cast of characters. It is good to see Anthony Anderson actually get a chance to act rather than just spout stand up comedy utterances, as he is resigned to in most of his films. Toni Braxton brings elegance to the cast on par with Vivica A. Fox. Cedric was absolutely hilarious as the mumbling, attentive preacher with a heavy lisp. And LL Cool J has developed into a fine actor, which was first made clear when he played a supporting role in Deep Blue Sea.

Along with the family dynamics, there is also some very funny satire about funeral homes. The best ones are involved in the community and locally owned. Much of that has changed lately and they are looked at as a business, quickly letting you know when another event is planned so you don't linger too long. If you think it has to be another funeral rather than a restaurant that wants to close, think again…last year I was at a funeral where within 20 minutes of the service being over, they were flashing the lights to tell you to get out.

The Kirk Franklin soundtrack to this movie is solid from start to finish. Recent movies have one or two songs that you might listen to, but this one is smoking .

In the end, situations are resolved for many of the characters…in one way or the other. This lighthearted comedy does not take itself too seriously, nor does it stretch too far for a laugh. This balance makes what otherwise is just a fair comedy, pretty good.

LL Cool J: Deep Blue Sea	Jada Pinkett: Bamboozled
Vivica A.Fox: Double Take	Loretta Devine: What Women Want
Anthony Anderson: Exit Wounds	Toni Braxton: Waiting to Exhale
Cedric the Entertainer: The Original Kings of Comedy	Whoopi Goldberg: Girl, Interrupted
Darius McCrary: 15 Minutes	Tamala Jones: The Brothers
Doug McHenry: The Brothers	Clifton Davis: "Melba Moore-Clifton Davis Show, The" (1972)