Grade: A-

Bernie is an utterly charming black comedy based on a true story.  Truth is always more interesting than fiction!  Bernie is a mortician who comes to a small town and wins everyone over.  He’s quickly the most popular guy around, directing and starring in community theatre, and comforting widows.  Jack Black plays Bernie – and he’s so good – played to the hilt without being over the top!  Shirley MacLaine plays one of the least popular people in town, rich but stingy.  Somehow Bernie is able to win her over and the two become inseparable.  Until tragedy strikes.  What happens is astounding.  And if it weren’t true, I think most reviewers would have said that the script was unbelievable!  Definitely worth seeing, especially for Shirley MacLaine fans like me!