Directed by Robert Zemeckis

Death Becomes Her follows two lifelong frenemies — Madeline Ashton (Meryl Streep), a fading actress terrified of aging, and Helen Sharp (Goldie Hawn), an aspiring novelist who has always fallen down at Madeline’s feet.

THE PLOT

After Helen brings her fiancé, Ernest (Bruce Willis, playing against type as a bumbling but talented plastic surgeon), to one of Madeline’s performances, he becomes smitten. Soon, he’s decided to leave Helen to marry Madeline — and it turns out this is quite a pattern for Helen and her men. Driven to depression, Helen gains hundreds of pounds and is admitted to a psychiatric institute.

Years later, Madeline and Ernest’s relationship has all but fallen apart between her narcissism and his drinking. Helen invites them to a party promoting her latest book, and they arrive to find her looking gorgeous and inexplicably young. Madeline becomes desperate.

She is introduced to the glamorous and wealthy Lisle von Rhuman (Isabella Rossellini), a mysterious socialite who offers her a magic potion that promises eternal youth and beauty (for a price). Madeline pays the exorbitant financial cost and drinks it, immediately de-aging while ignoring Lisle’s warning to take extreme care of her now immortal body. At the same time, Helen barges in on Ernest, seducing him and convincing him to murder Madeline so they can be reunited.

When Madeline returns home, newly confident, she rips Ernest to shreds, driving him to push her down the stairs and break her neck. Of course, she survives — completely fine except that her head is on backwards! And this launches director Robert Zemeckis‘s foray into the world of undead cat-fight special effects.

Before the film is over, you’ll have seen delights like a shotgun blasted through Helen’s stomach and Madeline’s neck twisted into a pretzel. The movie’s visual effects team won an Oscar and a Bafta!

THE ACTORS

It’s clear Streep and Hawn are having the time of their lives, their performances walk the perfect line between melodrama and slapstick. Streep’s Madeline became the prototype for many future “aging diva” roles.

It’s almost hard to believe Willis agreed to this role, four years after Die Hard (1988). He’s so sweaty and weak, and although he does end up the moral guidepost of the film, he doesn’t look good doing it. It really shows his impressive range; he doesn’t get enough credit for roles like this!

I’m partial to my namesake, of course, but obviously Isabella Rossellini steals every scene. She is the impetus for the film and her outfits are iconic.

THE THEMES

Upon release in 1992, Death Becomes Her was viciously criticized for its lack of affection for or insight on “women,” especially women in Hollywood, but age has given us the gift of rationality. Not every film needs to answer a big question or make a statement.

But if we had to list a moral it would be the pursuit of perfection vs. accepting yourself. Or the promises made to young women before they’re lost to the so-called oblivion of age. Or the importance of choosing female friendship over the temptation of rivalry. None of this is subtle, but that’s only because it’s not that important. Death Becomes Her is a visual spectacle and a fun time at the movies.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Death Becomes Her feels timeless. It’s a glossy and special effects-driven frolic with exceptional performances that has since been adapted into a fairly successful Broadway musical.

There are some flat scenes, like Lisle’s annual party guested by long-dead celebrities who have supposedly chosen eternal life (if you’re going to give us a room with Elvis, Warhol, and Monroe, please make it interesting). But you won’t regret turning this one on when you’re in the mood for something light with a little twist.

this movie is good.

My rating: 4/5

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