Better Off Dead on DVD (1985)

Average rating: 63%

from 682 members

2 Critics reviews
20 Members reviews

Starring:	John Cusack, Diane Franklin, David Ogden Stiers, Kim Darby, Curtis Armstrong
Director:	Savage Steve Holland
Studio:	PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time:	93 mins
Certificate:
User collections:	My Favourite Movies
Genres:	Comedy
Languages:	English
Released:	02/02/2004

Brief synopsis of Better Off Dead

Lane Myer's (John Cusack) dreams are shattered when his girlfriend Beth (Amanda Wyss) decides she prefers the company of a sleazy ski jock over his own. This disheartening news leads Lane to attempt to take his own life in various ways--all of which never seem to work out. But if he can beat Beth's new boyfriend in a ski run down the treacherous K-12, he may be able to win her back. Along the way, Lane also encounters a beautiful French exchange student, a nasal spray-snorting neighbour, a rabid newspaper boy, and dancing hamburgers. "Savage" Steve Holland (ONE CRAZY SUMMER) directs this 1985 cult favourite.

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Critics Reviews

Radio Times

Executive produced by feminist Gloria Steinem and skilfully directed by Neema Barnette, this thought-provoking TV movie explores the controversial issue of capital punishment. Tyra Ferrell plays a former district attorney who fights to save the life of a female death row inmate (Mare Winningham giving a standout performance), whom she prosecuted in a cop-killing case seven years earlier. A strong bond develops between the women as they race against time to win a stay of execution. Screenwriter Marlane X Meyers provides intelligent dialogue and some genuinely gripping scenes in a drama that raises tough questions.

Halliwell's Film Guide

Plotless, almost legless comedy drama with no direction whatever.

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Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Bonkers . .

Flex Torso from Barnsdale , 18/08/2004

This film was a long time being released and it will be a welcome surprise to people who rediscover it.

Its one of the great 80's rights of passage flicks, which Cusack manages with aplombe and a certain amount of style.

Cusack plays Lane Myer, who is trying desparately to win back his girlfriend - Beth.

The movie has some really offbeat/surreal comedy subtexts; his Mum's cooking, the Frankenstein creature he creates out of a hamburger, his 11 year old Brother's experiments with Laser weapons, building a space shuttle, and his predilection and success at attracting trashy women etc etc.

They all combine to make a superb feel-good movie that is still great to watch.

Some memorable quotes:

'Its a damn shame to be throwin a perfectly good white boy away like that'

Charles de Mar about snow - 'I think . . Ive deadened . . . the left side of my brain. Do you realise the street value of this stuff?'

6 out of 7 people found this review helpful

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this is hillarious

Elz1 from Durham , 03/08/2005

Honestly, i saw this movie about 15 years ago, and I used to watch it about 1 a month when i was young, it was so funny & it cheered me up no end if i was down.

Even after 15 years, I watched it the other day and I still laughed most of the way through it, if you liked this see other savage Steve Holland movies, the animations done by him, he did a sat morning cartoon too the only 2, I know of is One Crazy Summer Excellent and How I Got Into College which is ok.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

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