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Better Off Dead... (1985) 7.3
A teenager has to deal with his girlfriend dumping him among family crises, homicidal paper boys, and a rival skier. Director:Savage Steve HollandWriter:Savage Steve Holland |
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Title: Better Off Dead... (1985)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| John Cusack | ... | ||
| David Ogden Stiers | ... | ||
| Kim Darby | ... |
Jenny Meyer
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| Demian Slade | ... |
Johnny Gasparini
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Scooter Stevens | ... |
Badger Meyer
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| Diane Franklin | ... | ||
| Laura Waterbury | ... |
Mrs. Smith
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| Dan Schneider | ... |
Ricky Smith
(as Daniel Schneider)
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| Yuji Okumoto | ... |
Yee Sook Ree
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Brian Imada | ... |
Chen Ree
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Chuck Mitchell | ... |
Rocko
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| Amanda Wyss | ... |
Beth Truss
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| Curtis Armstrong | ... | ||
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Aaron Dozier | ... |
Roy Stalin
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Frank Burt Avalon | ... |
Roy's Ski Buddy #1
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Edit
Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Lane Meyer is a depressed teen who loses his girlfriend Beth. Her given reason for breaking up is: "Lane, I think it'd be in my best interest if I dated somebody more popular. Better looking. Drives a nicer car." Anyway, poor Lane is left alone and thinks up treacherous ways of killing himself. He finally meets a French beauty called Monique and falls for her. Simultaneously, he must endure his mother's terrible cooking which literally slides off the table and his disgusting next door neighbour Ricky (and his mum) while he prepares for the skiing race of his life - to get his old girlfriend back! Written by Michael Feller <reb@magna.com.au>
Taglines:
Teenage life has never been darker...or funnier... See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
21 August 1986 (Australia) See more »Also Known As:
Antes Morto Que Vivo See more »Filming Locations:
Sandy's Char Burger - 6223 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, California, USA See more »Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
StereoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Monique Junot: Ah, bonjour.
Lane Myer: Monique, hi.
Monique Junot: Comment allez-vous?
Lane Myer: No thanks, I already had breakfast.
See more »
Written by Daryl Hall and John Oates
Performed by Hall & Oates
Produced by Arif Mardin
Courtesy of RCA Records
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
When Lane gets home from the dance, he opens his brother's door to find lovely ladies in his room, the camera angle is a classic scene from The Graduate (1967) - the lady's legs are spread so we can see the boy in the doorway admiring her. See more »Goofs
At the end of the movie when the Monique and Lane are kissing at Dodgers Stadium, you can see bike tracks in the dirt and grass where the paperboy had ridden in previous takes. See more »Quotes
Lane Myer: Uh, hello?Monique Junot: Ah, bonjour.
Lane Myer: Monique, hi.
Monique Junot: Comment allez-vous?
Lane Myer: No thanks, I already had breakfast.
See more »
Crazy Credits
When Lane and Monique are at Dodgers Stadium sitting on his Camaro, the camera pulls away to a long shot. The paperboy (I want my two dollars!) can be seen riding across the baseball field towards them. See more »Soundtracks
She's GoneWritten by Daryl Hall and John Oates
Performed by Hall & Oates
Produced by Arif Mardin
Courtesy of RCA Records
See more »
Savage Steve Holland's sensational 'Better Off Dead...' is another one of my favourite teen films. I had seen this movie decades ago but didn't catch the name. I've been looking for the nameless film for years and only recently I found out the title and got it immediately.
Ah, the nostalgic 80s when kids knew how to be young rather than spend their days on the cellphone or behind the computer. The film delightfully spoofs those teen angst movies that were so popular at the time. Lane's ex-girlfriend giving him an excuse that she dumped him for someone better looking and more popular, Lanes failed suicide attempts, Lanes cartoons are among some of the most amusing sequences.
Holland gives the film a unique treatment. 'Better Off Dead...' has an innovative quality that makes it one of a kind. It includes the adorable claymated romantic Hamburgers, cartoons, a stalking paperboy, a ski competition on one leg, a little brother who's a silent genius and an international language. Holland put a lot of heart in the writing and some of the lines had me rolling on the floor laughing.
The acting is splendid. The character Lane seems tailor-made for John Cusack. I've always thought of Cusack as an underrated actor and 'Better Off Dead...' is one of the few movies that does justice to his talents (even though this is perhaps one of his first roles). A vivacious Diane Franklin is supercute and she has the loveliest smile. The chemistry between her and Cusack is undeniable and both have excellent comic timing. David Ogden Stiers and Kim Darby are hilarious as the nutty parents. Curtis Armstrong provides some morbidly funny moments.
To say it in one sentence, 'Better Off Dead...' is one of the rarest examples of teen movies at its best. It already is a classic and while many of us watch it for nostalgic reasons, others may like it simply for the heart and humour.