Daddy's Dyin': Who's Got the Will?

"Daddy's Dyin': Who's Got the Will?" is a theatrical black comedy film adapted for the screen in 1990. The movie was directed by the talented Jack Fisk and features a renowned ensemble cast including Beau Bridges, Keith Carradine, Beverly D'Angelo, Tess Harper, Judge Reinhold, and Patrika Darbo among others. The story is based on a popular play written by Del Shores, which also provides the title for the film.

The film unravels in the Southern United States, examining the tumultuous dynamics within the Turnover family, a generically dysfunctional southern clan. The father, Buford Turnover (played by Bert Remsen), is suffering from a terminal illness, and his impending demise brings together a disparate collection of estranged siblings, a self-involved stepmother, and other colorful characters at their familial home in Lowake, Texas.

Beau Bridges plays the eldest son, Orville Turnover, a pig farmer with anger management issues and hero of the story in his own quirky way. Keith Carradine plays the youngest son, Harmony, who after a failed stint in Hollywood and becoming a New Age California type, returns home to face his share of familial chaos. Beverly D'Angelo plays Evalita Turnover, the drama queen and wanna-be country singer whose many marriages and flamboyant lifestyle add another layer of dysfunction to the family. At the heart of all the outrageous behaviors is Sara Lee Turnover, played by Tess Harper, the only stable family member who's stuck with the responsibility of looking after her ailing father and managing the family chaos.

"Daddy's Dyin': Who's Got the Will?" is marked by its peculiarly dark sense of humor that often borders on the outrageous. The craziness escalates as the siblings, their partners, and the stepmother Marlene (played by Molly McClure), gather together waiting for their father's demise and the subsequent revelation of his will. Four years estranged from the family, the members reveal their oddities, eccentricities, and idiosyncrasies in full form, leading to ripple effects of quarrels, misunderstandings, and revelations.

The story reaches a crescendo as the siblings, along with Marlene, anxiously await Buford's death and the reading of his will. Alongside the humor and feuds, the movie also explores themes of love, heartbreak, regret, and redemption, tracing the intricate web of relationships and histories that knit the Turnover family together. What ensues is a tumultuous ride of laughter, tears, and confusion, making "Daddy’s Dyin': Who's Got the Will?" an overall entertaining spectacle.

Amidst the chaos, the movie offers a pitch-perfect portrayal of a southern family teetering on the edge of emotional wreckage. The superb performances, especially from Beau Bridges and Tess Harper, ground the film and make it relatable, despite the hilarity and absurdity. The narrative ingeniously balances serious drama with laugh-out-loud humor, creating a compelling and often-heartwarming family portrait.

"Daddy's Dyin': Who's Got the Will?" is marked by a host of colorful characters, engaging dialogues, and eccentric humor. It crafts a vivid, affectionately mocking portrayal of the ordinariness, quirks, and foibles residing under the seemingly extraordinary exterior of a southern family. The film may be set in rural Texas, but in its exploration of family dynamics and the human condition, it assumes a universal appeal.

In this heartwarming comedy, be ready to meet family characters that push the limits of 'eccentric,' grapple with the trials and tribulations of familial connections, and gain insights into familial love that surpasses all absurdities. Whether you laugh at the ridiculousness, feel for the characters or get tangled in the web of their peculiar relationships, "Daddy's Dyin': Who's Got the Will?" will leave you thoroughly entertained and eager for more of such well-scripted, eccentric family comedies.