Better Off Dead

Movie review by Charles Cassady Jr., Common Sense Media
Better Off Dead Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 12+

Uneven, occasionally hilarious '80s teen comedy.

PG 1985 98 minutes
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Parents say

age 12+

Based on 2 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 6 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that some releases of this movie carry the PG-13 rating, others a PG. It's pretty mild for its type nonetheless. There is drug humor and a few sexual references and modest swearing. Reckless behavior -- on the ski slopes and drag racing in streets -- is glorified. Queasiest factor for most viewers might be the repeated depiction of (unsuccessful) teen suicide as gag pratfalls.

Community Reviews

doctora
doctora Adult
May 30, 2022
age 12+

I just want $2

I expected nothing and was pleasantly surprised. It's all ridiculously out there enough to work because, well, Cusack frankly. And of course because of $2 never sounded so menacing as it does in this film.
Moniz F.
Moniz F. Adult
April 21, 2017
age 12+

Dark humor fun

This is one of those movies that I am surprised was made in the US and in the 80's no less. The humor (multiple unsuccessful suicide attempts) is dark of course but handled hilariously and it is not usually something that is served up to American audiences, generally speaking. It is a bit out there but for some but more mature kids will crack up and for those of us that prefer more dark and twisted humor it's hilarious. There are references to Howard Cosell that will be lost on kids these days, but the intersection of American, Japanese, French characters is pretty fabulous and a young John Cusack pretty much rules. Overall the gist is that there are better options than suicide and no lousy girlfriend is worth killing yourself over....it's pretty lighthearted in the end.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Lane (John Cusack) is a typical teenager in a typically weird suburban northern California household (younger brother is a mad-scientist type; mom's atrocious kitchen techniques are right out of the the Addams Family, best friend is a crazed goofball). Lane adores his girlfriend Beth (Amanda Wyss), a fellow student he's been dating for six months. Straightaway she dumps him for the handsome, popular varsity ski-team champ, and Lane goes into a bad-luck tailspin. His car radio plays nothing but breakup songs, and he finds himself repeatedly humiliated in front of Beth, in and out of school. Other dudes (even a famous cartoon character!) tell him they're going to ask Beth out. The tormented Lane repeatedly tries to kill himself, but finds a promising new relationship with the proverbial girl next door -- a French-exchange student being amorously pursued by the fat "dork" son in her host family.

Is It Any Good?

While some critics failed it from the outset, Better Off Dead is actually a notch more upscale than most of its fellow D-grade locker-room comedies. It's gained a "cult" reputation for its clever gags (even if some haven't aged too well; anyone for a Howard Cosell parody?) and zany blend of animation and live-action. BETTER OFF DEAD graduated to theaters with a homeroomful of similar comedies (many inspired by Porky's, whose title character cameos here) fixated on teen lust, teen drugs, and teen feuds/revenge/payback. Some individual bits here are fall-down hilarious, if pretty much throwaways in a severely disjointed plotline.

A young John Cusack would have more multidimensional roles to play later in his career, and the absurdist approach to life from a bewildered adolescent's POV would be done in remarkably similar style -- but with more heart -- by TV's Malcolm in the Middle. Still, a generation of parents who grew up in the 1980s cherish Better Off Dead and might want to give it a spin again with their own offspring to see whether the humor holds up. That's if the cavalier treatment of suicide as a running joke isn't a dealbreaker.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the heartbreaks that come along with school crushes and first loves. Do you think this feature treats the topic sympathetically or just milks it for yocks? FYI, the writer-director claimed his own painful breakup as a youth inspired the comedy. What do kids think about the slapsticky teen-suicide angle, especially compared to achingly serious dramas on the subject such as Permanent Record and The Virgin Suicides? Is suicide no laughing matter, or is joking it away a good approach?

Movie Details

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