Just found a new 'feel good' movie. Can't believe I haven't watched this before today. Also, Isabella Rossellini is a goddess.
These two bitchy ladies will do anything to make heads turn, including their own.
After watching this film, I was very surprised to learn that it was an Oscar winner. Admittedly, it was for Best Special Effects, which is a very contextual award that is difficult to judge fairly 30 years later. That said, the award kind of embodies my problem with the movie as a whole. The entire premise felt like a gimmick designed specifically to showcase a handful of cutting edge (at the time) special effects. I imagine the pitch for this movie may have been hyper focused on a few special effects scenes, with the rest of the story taking a back seat (i.e. "Wouldn't it be really cool for Meryl Streep to have her head on backwards and for Goldie Hawn to have a hole in her torso??"). As you might expect, this approach doesn't make for a very well rounded film (although interestingly enough, this was allegedly how The Matrix was pitched, so what do I know).
The structure of this film also felt very strange and oddly disjointed. I actually quite liked the relentlessly paced opening, with its multiple 7 year jumps to get through a whole lot of setup in a hyper-efficient way. That said, there was so much setup to get through that when the main premise/gimmick finally came around, it felt like it was a little late to the party. The conflict also felt like it didn't have a strong through line. The competition between the two female leads is essentially (and abruptly) resolved before act three, leaving the rest of the film to awkwardly pivot focus onto the hapless Bruce Willis. Ultimately this lead to an ending that felt rushed and unearned.
Despite these issues, there are still some positives to point out. As I said, the opening was actually quite fun. The performances are strong, with Meryl Streep and Bruce Willis both really selling their characters. There's plenty of quirky humor. Unfortunately, all of these positive elements are let down by a jumbled story that just didn't work for me.
While most kids grew up watching “Back to the Future” or “Ghostbusters”, my childhood classic was “Death Becomes Her”. I guess that would partly explain my fucked up taste for films.
I just love the way it mixes macabre and comedy in a deliberately campy, over-the-top tone that makes it look like some kind of fucked-up horror soap opera parody. Black comedy reached higher heights through the years indeed, but the jokes and especially the visual humor are still as sharp and witty as it takes. Despite being a light satire of our society’s narcissism and hopeless quest for perfection, the film never loses its playful tone to make moral statements or turn into Zemeckis’ usual schmaltzfest.
I was actually surprised to find out that most people even forgot about it. I guess it was too quirky and tongue in cheek to become a successful blockbuster, and at the same time too mainstream as a production to become a cult movie.
This was a classic of my youth! Me, my mum and my sister all loved and quoted it far too much. I was worried it wouldn't stand up after all these years but it does. Hilarious comedy with some smart messages and themes. And what a great cast.
A fun satirical film showcasing the extents some will go to when overtaken by an obsession with "beauty."
Part of my 2022 Comedy Thursdays
Death Becomes Her is one of my favorite dark comedies of the early 90s, with a great cast with Bruce Willis, Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, and Isabella Rossellini. The story is quite funny, and when you have great actors, you sometimes get good acting, and with Death Becomes Her you actually get good acting. The great effects help the physical comedy reach a pretty high standard as well, so...
Death Becomes Her is still a very nice time. Recommended!!!
NOTE FOR MYSELF SO I REMEMBER SOMEDAY, ONLY REPRESENTS MY OPINION/THOUGHTS FOR MYSELF NOT A “REAL REVIEW“, SO YOU PROBABLY WONT AGREE WITH IT
(also its not my 1st language)
5.5
after being forgotten I found this one again, remembered I watched it with my mum (funny to think about after rewatching it, I was way too young to watch that one xD ) and was kinda excited, but sadly this movie didn't age well, imo its pretty flat, outdated, and has a old-fashioned problematic mindset, (f.e. how they portrayed a mental ward)
but great sfx for its time and it got better towards the end
Love this movie! Great chick flick highlighting the fear of aging.... funny is the solution and consequences! Love the peeling paint! All the performances were great. Nice light movie!
lighthearted and campy with a wink
Imagine having the most incredible smart phone ever invented, and using it to write BOOBS upside down on the calculator.
The CGI from 1992 is breathtaking, but wasted on a script from 1892.
Some fun moments and decent special effects make this worth watching. It's silly and unique with good performances from Meryl Streep and Bruce Willis..
Shout by Alexander JohnsonVIP 3BlockedParent2016-10-10T06:21:43Z
The perfect kind of perfectly acted trash film that I live for. If you've never actually watched this I pity you.