In the sleepy East Texas town of Carthage, Berhnardt “Bernie” Tiede (Jack Black, delivering a flawlessly mannered performance) is the go-to guy for all things funeral-related: a master in the business of bereavement. Much beloved by the townsfolk, the smooth-talking mortician manages to befriend wealthy widow and legendary sourpuss Marjorie (Shirley MacLaine). But when Marjorie takes advantage of Bernie’s selfless nature, treating him as both her globetrotting partner and personal assistant, how much can a man take? Based on a true story and featuring interviewswith the real townspeople of Carthage, this black comedy from director Richard Linklater (“School of Rock,” “Dazed and Confused”) mixes traditional storytelling and a mockumentary style to deliver pathos and over-the-top laughs in equal measure.