“Daniel’s Gotta Die” has a compelling storyline. Daniel (Joel David Moore) has just inherited billions from his dad Edward James Powell (Iggy Pop). He has a choice of sharing it with his family or taking the whole lot and walking away. If he decides to share the inheritance, which he does, well his dad’s will requires his siblings to spend a week-end with him at the family beach house in the Caymans. Dear old dad thinks rightly Daniel’s three siblings are no good scum. Daniel, like some idiot savant blind to the greed, selfishness and treachery of his siblings would rather share the inheritance and play board games at the beach house with them. The film could be a caper or a serious attempt at explaining the dysfunctionality of families as exaggerated as it may be. There is almost no comedy of any sort either dark or ribald and its stereotypical characters dilutes any seriousness or true comedy to the film.
A great start to the film with opening credits rolling like an Albert Broccoli production in an abstract 1960’s comedic fashion. Where are Doris Day and David Niven in “Please Don’t Eat the Daisies”? Then a strong but minor role by Iggy Pop. Man this is heading in the right direction!
The acting is strong throughout. A classy production but it’s obsession with stereotypes sabotages the film from being little more than mundane. Daniel is for the most part a twit, his brother Victor (Jason Jones), a Prince Randy Andy lookalike, a lost and incompetent drug addict, his sister Mia (Mary Lynn Rajskub) a cold ruthless capitalist and his other sister Jessica (Carly Chaikin) a social media darling. If they kill Daniel, which they set their actions toward they will inherit a fortune.
Will Daniel die? In a sudden and brief but chilling moment of the film one must ask is Daniel really any less scummy than his siblings? A very crispy conclusion left to your imagination.
This was Bob Saget’s last film and he plays with skill Lawrence who is Edward James Powell’s secretary. The film just can’t escape its boring stereotypes handcuffing the acting talents of the cast.
This Canadian film has a theatrical release in Canada on 27October2023. It will be screening at The Toronto After Dark Film Festival on 20October2023.
You can see the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVoQv77ve-I&t=1s
Directed by Jeremy Lalonde.
RKS 2023 Film Rating 61/100.
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