By Robert Scucci
| Revealed
Usually, I’m completely okay when a Jay Baruchel car will get tanked by critics as a result of there’s one thing in regards to the characters he portrays that irritates me to no finish. After watching 2007’s Simply BuriedI had an analogous revelation about him that I just lately had about Justin Lengthy. Justin Lengthy is commonly typecast as a jerk as a result of he’s so good at enjoying that man. Equally, Jay Baruchel has an innate means to play a hapless wiener who you simply need to give a swirlie.
I do know my pondering is incorrect right here as a result of actors like Baruchel and Lengthy get typecast in these roles exactly as a result of they’re exceptionally good at them. The explanation I don’t like their characters is as a result of they’re not imagined to be likable. This isn’t an indictment of who they’re as actual folks, however a celebration of the expertise they convey to the desk and the way nicely it really works when utilized appropriately.
Although Simply Buried’s 33 p.c vital rating on Rotten Tomatoes would lead you to imagine this isn’t one in all Jay Baruchel’s finer hours, I’m going to respectfully disagree. It’s one of many few motion pictures the place he will get high billing (2013’s That is the Finish being the opposite one) that I’d really suggest to anyone interested in what he has to supply.
A Lethal Inheritance
Jay Baruchel’s Oliver Whynacht (pronounced “why not”) is extra charming in Simply Buried than the critics would have you ever assume. Summoned to a small city in Nova Scotia for his father Rollie’s (Jeremy Akerman) funeral, Oliver, a grocery retailer supply boy with no actual prospects on the horizonis shocked to be taught he’s inherited his complete property, together with the struggling funeral dwelling Rollie owned and operated. What Oliver doesn’t notice is that the enterprise is going through chapter as a result of rival proprietor Wayne Snarr (Christopher Shore) has been poaching all of his potential purchasers from the close by retirement dwelling.
Rollie’s widow, Roberta (Rose Byrne), who works because the embalmer, shortly befriends Oliver, and the 2 hit it off. Their budding friendship is examined when Oliver, who will get a nosebleed each time he’s harassed, by accident runs over a pedestrian after a few drinks on the bar. Terrified he’ll go to jail for vehicular manslaughter, Oliver learns that Roberta is just not solely a talented embalmer, but additionally the city’s coroner and Police Chief Knickle’s (Nigel Bennett) daughter.
After staging the scene to seem like the pedestrian suffered a deadly fall throughout one in all his nightly walks, Roberta handles the post-mortem, giving Oliver his first buyer on the funeral dwelling when the sufferer’s rich household involves pay their respects. This creates a twofold drawback. First, locals develop suspicious in regards to the man’s loss of life, which means potential witnesses could should be handled, one thing Roberta seemingly has no qualms about. Second, Roberta suggests sabotaging Wayne Snarr to allow them to get the funeral dwelling’s books again in black as soon as they’re the one recreation on the town once more.
The physique depend in Simply Buried retains climbing as a result of Oliver and Roberta need to shield themselves, however additionally they notice they’ve stumbled onto a disturbingly efficient enterprise mannequin. Lifeless folks want funerals, funeral properties want lifeless folks, and Roberta is aware of how you can make folks lifeless as if she’s been quietly planning one thing like this lengthy earlier than Oliver got here into the image. Oliver, whose nostril begins bleeding each time pressed by Chief Knickle, turns into the first suspect within the string of deaths. Roberta, given her distinctive place in a small city the place all people is aware of all people, stays calculating sufficient to remain one step forward of the authorities.
Professional-Stage Escalations
What makes Simply Buried much better than its repute suggests is how completely Jay Baruchel is forged as Oliver Whynacht. The whole lot I dislike about Baruchel’s on-screen presence in movies like 2010’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice interprets completely right here. Each time Oliver will get in hassle, I anticipate him to begin huffing and puffing earlier than blurting out “gee whiz,” or one thing equally irritating. On this movie, that character trait works as a result of he’s not reluctantly embarking on a magical journey, however as an alternative spiraling by means of a steadily escalating state of affairs that might land him behind bars for the remainder of his life.
Rose Byrne’s portrayal of Roberta Knickle is equally commendable right here. At first, she comes off as an eccentric but useful confederate within the incident that kicks off the grotesque chain of occasions in Simply Buried. As Oliver spends extra time along with her, it turns into clear she’s a low-key psychopath whose attain and affect over the neighborhood is way wider than anyone would ever anticipate. The result’s a morbidly hilarious thriller thriller that’s sharper and funnier than it has any proper to be.
Simply Buried is at the moment streaming on Netflix.
