DEATH BECOMES HER
A film review by Too FAT Guys
Copyright 1992 by Roger & Me
Roger: Say Roger, isn't Meryl Streep a Serious Actor?
Roger: Yes. Why do you ask?
Roger: I was wondering, why does she keep squandering her talent on these pitiful comedies?
Roger: She tried it once and she liked it?
Roger: Possibly. It's a shame no one else does. Which brings us to her
latest film, DEATH BECOMES HER. Streep plays Madeline, a
self-consumed actor in the twilight of her career. After a
disastrous performance, she steals her old friend Helen's
fiancee, Ernest (Bruce Willis). Seven years later, Helen
(Goldie Hawn) is still traumatized by her loss and is put into
a mental hospital, presumably for depression. There she finds
a new purpose in life: Eliminating Madeline. Again seven
years later, Helen, looking remarkably well preserved, returns
to prey on Madeline and Ernest's crumbling marriage. Madeline,
in turn, prays for a miracle cure for her aging, which she
finds in the form of an immortality potion.
Roger: Much of the film's humor is derived from the playful things
that Industrial Light & Magic can do to immortal bodies. Many
of the sight gags come off quite well, and the film gets extra
points for its creative use of stairs. I have a penchant for
dark and morbid humor, so I enjoyed parts of this movie
immensely.
Roger: While I did enjoy some of the outrageous special effects, I
think that the film lacks several crucial elements. First, the
plot is full of holes, among them, why Helen also takes the
magic potion. Second, if there once was a theme in this movie,
it seems to have been sacrificed to the Hollywood gods. Or at
least fatally obscured.
Roger: Right, unless you count "women are using, lying, vain, bitches"
as a theme. I think the intended theme was "beauty is skin
deep," but with all the contradictions, the "bitches" theme is
all that's left.
Roger: One of these contradictions is particularly offensive. During
Helen's depression, she becomes very obese. Amazing special
fat-effects aside, the tone of the fat segment is extremely
negative. While she is overweight, the shots are low angle
closeups of her buttocks and legs, whereas while thin, the
camera showcases her radiant smile and cleavage. Fat jokes
just don't cut it with me. What did you think of the acting,
Roger?
Roger: I found it refreshing to see Bruce Willis get away from his
wise-cracking, tough guy roles. Both Goldie Hawn and Meryl
Streep were competent, considering the poor source material.
Isabella Rossellini, on the other hand, is magnificent in her
bit part as a talking pair of breasts. I understand that they
needed to provide a source for the magic potion; I fail to
understand why she needed to be naked for the role. A few
laughs just weren't enough to make up for all these failings.
I give this film a thumbs down.
Roger: The movie was humorous enough to entertain me while I was at
the theatre. I give this movie a mild thumbs up to anyone who
can resist the temptation to think about it afterwards.
Roger: Well, that's one thumb down and a mild thumb up. That's all for
now -- the tty is closed.
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