SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 1 Hour, 37 Min.
In 2002, Paramount Home Video released this 1985 John Cusack teen comedy to DVD; its writer-director is “Savage” Steve Holland. Oblivious California teenager Lane Meyer’s (Cusack) idyllic life crumbles once his self-involved girlfriend (Wyss) dumps him for the high school ski team captain, super-jerk Roy Stalin (Dozier).
Despondently, Lane attempts suicide multiple times, only to meet inept failure and even further humiliation. Further complicating his wacky life are two well-intended yet utterly clueless parents (Ogden Stiers & Darby); a hyper-precocious little brother (Stevens); a snow-sniffing best friend (Armstrong); and a paperboy (Slade) relentlessly stalking him for two dollars in back pay.
His only hope may be the enchanting French exchange student (Franklin) living across the street with his cringe-worthy neighbors (Schneider & Waterbury). Feeling a jolt of energizing self-esteem, Lane re-discovers other worthwhile passions and possibly a new one he doesn’t yet realize.
Lane’s fate is ultimately decided by a winner-take-all ski showdown vs. Stalin off the notorious K-12 mountain … with a demented paperboy in hot pursuit.
Lane Meyer: John Cusack
Monique Junot: Diane Franklin
Charles Del Mar: Curtis Armstrong
Al Meyer: David Ogden Stiers
Jenny Myer: Kim Darby
“Badger” Meyer: Scooter Stevens
Beth Truss: Amanda Wyss
Roy Stalin: Aaron Dozier
Johnny Gasparini: Damien Slade
Ricky Smith: Dan Schneider
Mrs. Smith: Laura Waterbury
Rocko: Chuck Mitchell
School Dance Singer: E.G. Daily
Note: This title is also available on Blu-Ray.
REVIEW:
If one is in the mood for dark mid-80’s teen humor, then Better Off Dead delivers the anything-goes goods. This cult favorite’s worst offense is playing laughs off teen suicide, even if the gags are generally well-played. Still, anchored by a game John Cusack, the cast’s acting is spot-on parodying perpetual teen angst.
Writer-director “Savage” Steve Holland, in that sense, doesn’t miss any genre tricks wildly depicting this semi-autobiographical take on his own teenage mishaps. Suffice to say, the film’s terrific last stretch justifies giving Holland’s low-rent comedy a chance. Guilty pleasure laughs will surely be awaiting viewers.
Better Off Dead, as a suggestion, would be an ideal double-feature with Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
BONUS FEATURES:
The sole extras are English subtitles and Dolby Digital (English) Stereo sound.
PACKAGING:
The DVD has a standard casing. Its contents are accurately advertised.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5½ Stars
