Better Off Dead... (1985)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Savage Steve Holland

Writer:

Savage Steve Holland (writer)

Release Date:

11 October 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

You've blown up your neighbor's mom. Your seven-year-old brother has better luck with women than you do. Your girlfriend has a new boyfriend. Relax, you're never...

Plot:

A teenager has to deal with his girlfriend dumping him among family crises, homicidal paper boys, and a rival skier.

Plot Keywords:

Exchange Student | Skiing | Suicide Attempt | Teen | Garage Door

Cast

John Cusack	...	Lane Meyer
David Ogden Stiers	...	Al Meyer
Kim Darby	...	Jenny Meyer
Demian Slade	...	Johnny Gasparini
Scooter Stevens	...	Badger Meyer
Diane Franklin	...	Monique Junot
Laura Waterbury	...	Mrs. Smith
Dan Schneider	...	Ricky Smith (as Daniel Schneider)
Yuji Okumoto	...	Yee Sook Ree
Brian Imada	...	Chen Ree
Chuck Mitchell	...	Rocko
Amanda Wyss	...	Beth Truss
Curtis Armstrong	...	Charles De Mar
Aaron Dozier	...	Roy Stalin
Frank Burt Avalon	...	Roy's Ski Buddy #1

Also Known As:

Better Off Dead (USA) (alternative title)
One Way Love (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Norway:12 | UK:15 | Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Finland:K-12 | USA:PG | Singapore:PG | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

1633 Virginia Avenue, Glendale, California, USA

Company:

A&M Films

Trivia:

Lane's little brother, Badger, has no lines in the entire film.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Camera and operator visible during the final ski race with the paper boy.

Quotes:

Jenny Myer: [regarding the blob of food] It's got raisins in it... you like raisins.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Being John Malkovich (1999)

Soundtrack:

Dancing In Isolation

Everybody Wants Some....

I recently held a movie survey for an upcoming 12-hour "silly film" party at my house. This movie, surprisingly, was the top title to be voted on out of about 40 movies. Then I thought about it a bit - I loved this flick, and over 14 years, videos have been rented and others saw it and love it as well. What other flick can have a homicidal paper boy, a japanese guy who speaks only as howard cosell, a car that has darkened our driveway for six months, the k-12, and charles demar? The love story inside of it is good as well. "Reminds me of the moonshine Ricky's dead pappy used to make - God Bless him!" 9 of 10.