True stories are usually the best film adaptations especially when they focus on something that isn’t a story you might know much about. One might not think the world of funerals offer much up outside of the horror genre, but director Maggie Betts latest film The Burial is bringing two big stars in Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones along with an interesting true story to do just that. The film co-stars Jurnee Smollett, Alan Ruck, Mamooudou Athie, Bill Camp, and Amanda Warren, but does it offer up those elements that will get you invested, or should it have stayed buried?

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The Burial follows a handshake deal that goes sour, so funeral home owner Jeremiah O'Keefe enlists charismatic, smooth-talking attorney Willie E. Gary to save his family business. Tempers flare and laughter ensues as the unlikely pair bond while exposing corporate corruption and racial injustice in this inspirational, triumphant story.

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I had skipped the trailer on this one so wasn’t sure if it was going straight up drama or comedy with different promotional stuff looking like it could go either way. I love both Foxx and Jones so was excited to see what was cooked up for these two and thought that they might be going head to head, but clearly I was off and worked so much better because of it.

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This is a story of family legacy, corporate greed, financial gain, friendship and history with so much more here than I expected. Both Jones and Foxx are fantastic here. Foxx is right at home as the fast talking preacher lawyer and fully embraces what seems to be a stereotype, but so much more than what’s on the surface. Jones is more subtle with his true concern for his family and their legacy, but with a hint of that something off you aren’t sure what it is. This makes it work to perfection.

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There is nothing better than a good courtroom drama and they put it right on