brian-mcelhaney – Moviefone Editorial

(L to R) Samara Weaving and Jason Segel in Jorma Taccone’s 'Over Your Dead Body'. Courtesy of Independent Film Company. An Independent Film Company Release. — (L to R) Samara Weaving and Jason Segel in Jorma Taccone’s ‘Over Your Dead Body’. Courtesy of Independent Film Company. An Independent Film Company Release.

In theaters on April 24 is ‘Over Your Dead Body’, an adaptation of a dark Norwegian comedy that stars Jason Segel (‘Shrinking’) and Samara Weaving (‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’) as a couple who have deadly plans for each other.

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Directed by Jorma Taccone, the cast also includes Juliette Lewis (‘Cape Fear’), Timothy Olyphant (‘Justified’), Paul Guilfoyle (‘L.A. Confidential’) and Keith Jardine (‘Kill Me Again’).

Initial Thoughts

(L to R) Jason Segel and Samara Weaving in Jorma Taccone’s 'Over Your Dead Body'. Courtesy of Independent Film Company. An Independent Film Company Release. — (L to R) Jason Segel and Samara Weaving in Jorma Taccone’s ‘Over Your Dead Body’. Courtesy of Independent Film Company. An Independent Film Company Release.

Marriages where the passion has long cooled have been a fertile source for bloody comedies in the past, including ‘The War of the Roses’ (remade recently as ‘The Roses’) into that genre steps ‘Over Your Dead Body’, which boasts the comic stylings of Jason Segel and the comedy/action chops of Samara Weaving. But does it deliver?

Script and Direction

'Over Your Dead Body' director Jorma Taccone. — ‘Over Your Dead Body’ director Jorma Taccone.

Adapted from the Norwegian film ‘The Trip’ (which was co-written and directed by Tommy Wirkola), the new movie features a script from Nick Kocher (‘Pizza Movie’) and Brian McElhaney (‘Plus One’) that sets up the bad romance between Segel and Weaving’s characters before throwing all manner of comically violent twists in. It doesn’t always work, but when it hits, it hits hard.

Jorma Taccone, the Lonely Island co-founder, shows a knack for staging violent set pieces here, and keeps the movie feeling fun.

Cast and Performances

(L to R) Juliette Lewis, Samara Weaving, and Timothy Olyphant in Jorma Taccone’s 'Over Your Dead Body'. Courtesy of Independent Film Company. An Independent Film Company Release. — (L to R) Juliette Lewis, Samara Weaving, and Timothy Olyphant in Jorma Taccone’s ‘Over Your Dead Body’. Courtesy of Independent Film Company. An Independent Film Company Release.

Segel and Weaving are excellent as the central pair, but kudos also to Timothy Olyphant, Juliette Lewis and Keith Jardine, who all give committed, loopy performances.

Final Thoughts

Timothy Olyphant in Jorma Taccone’s 'Over Your Dead Body'. Courtesy of Independent Film Company. An Independent Film Company Release. — Timothy Olyphant in Jorma Taccone’s ‘Over Your Dead Body’. Courtesy of Independent Film Company. An Independent Film Company Release.

If you watch one action comedy this year where Samara Weaving regrets her choices and fights for her life, make it ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’. But if you’ve room for two, then ‘Over Your Dead Body’ has plenty to offer.

‘Over Your Dead Body’ receives 69 out of 100.