Rating of
3/4
Better Off Dead review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 02/01/12
Lane Myer (John Cusack) was replaced by his girlfriend Beth (Amanda Wyss) for a captain of the high school ski team, Roy Stalin. Myer gets close to a French foreign exchange student named Monique (Diane Franklin). A few nice lines from Monique: “I think all you need is a small taste of success, and you will find it suits you.” and Lane – “No, tentacles. N-T. There's a big difference.” "She only speaks French, Roy. She doesn't speak imbecile."
The film had a few absurd scenes like the kid asking for 2 dollars on top of the car and a coincidental fall from the bridge in a garbage truck. It had some cheesy scenes as well though the humor was really good. Soundtrack was vigorous and direction was well constructed mixing clay animation, comic strip animation and adding a spooky element with the kid asking for money. There was no wasted frame, even the end credits had a scene and a nice line which says “The film is over you can go now.” A feel good re-watchable dark comedy, Better Off Dead can make you smile, empathize and laugh with subjects on friendship, suicide, love and coming of age.
