Written by Robert Scucci | Published
Normally, I’m fine with Jay Baruchel’s car being bashed by critics because there’s something about acting that really pisses me off. After watching the 2007 Just BuriedI had the same revelation about him that I just had about Justin Long. Justin Long is often typecast as a jerk because he is so good at playing that guy. Likewise, Jay Baruchel has an innate ability to play a harmless wiener you want to give a swirlie.
I know my thinking is wrong here because actors like Baruchel and Long get typecast in these roles because they are so good at them. The reason I don’t like their characters is because they aren’t likable. This is not an indictment of who they are as real people, but rather a celebration of the talent they bring to the table and how effective it can be when used correctly.
However Just for the funeral A 33 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes would lead you to believe that this is not one of Jay Baruchel’s finest hours, I will respectfully disagree. It is one of the few movies where he got top billing (in 2013 This is the conclusion being another) I would recommend it to anyone who wants to know what it has to offer.
A Deadly Legacy
Jay Baruchel’s Oliver Whynacht (pronounced “why”) is very likable Just Buried than the critics would have you think. Called to a small town in Nova Scotia for the funeral of his father Rollie (Jeremy Akerman), Oliver, a hopeless grocery delivery boy, is surprised to learn that he has inherited his entire estate, including the funeral home that Rollie is struggling to operate. What Oliver doesn’t realize is that the business is facing bankruptcy because rival owner Wayne Snarr (Christopher Shore) has been poaching all of his potential customers for the nearest retirement home.
Rollie’s widow, Roberta (Rose Byrne), who works as a promoter, quickly befriends Oliver, and the two drift apart. Their budding friendship is put to the test when Oliver, who gets nosebleeds whenever he’s stressed, accidentally trips a pedestrian after a few drinks at a bar. Terrified that he will go to prison for vehicular manslaughter, Oliver discovers that Roberta is not only a skilled lobbyist, but also the city’s detective and the daughter of Police Chief Knickle (Nigel Bennett).
After staging the scene to make it look like a pedestrian fell badly during his nighttime walk, Roberta handles the autopsy, giving Oliver his first client at a funeral when the victim’s wealthy family arrives to pay their respects. This creates a twofold problem. First, the locals become suspicious of the man’s death, which means that potential witnesses may have to be dealt with, something Roberta seems undeterred by. Second, Roberta suggests destroying Wayne Snarr to get the black obituaries if it’s the end of the game in town again.
The body counts Just Buried it keeps rising because Oliver and Roberta want to protect themselves, but they also realize that they have stumbled upon a disturbingly effective business method. Dead people need funerals, funeral homes need dead people, and Roberta knows how to make people die like she was quietly planning something like this before Oliver entered the picture. Oliver, whose nose starts to bleed whenever he is pressed by Chief Knickle, becomes the prime suspect in a series of deaths. Roberta, given her unique position in a small town where everyone knows everyone else, is still calculating enough to stay one step ahead of the authorities.
Professional Level Up
What does Just Buried even better than its name suggests is how Jay Baruchel is played as Oliver Whynacht. Everything I don’t like about Baruchel’s screen presence in films like 2010 The Sorcerer’s Apprentice it translates perfectly here. Every time Oliver gets into trouble, I expect him to start huffing and puffing before uttering “gee whiz,” or something equally annoying. In this film, that character trait works because he doesn’t start off with a reluctance to have magical fun, but instead goes through a slow-growing situation that could land him in prison for the rest of his life.
Rose Byrne’s portrayal of Roberta Knickle is equally admirable here. At first, he appears to be a unique but useful participant in an event that sets off a shocking chain of events. Just Buried. As Oliver spends more time with her, it becomes clear that she is a low-level psychopath whose reach and influence on society is far wider than anyone expected. The result is a quirky mystery thriller that’s sharper and funnier than it has any right to be.
Just Buried is currently streaming on Netflix.
