Critic Reviews
Better Off Dead... (1985) Rank 3 Reviews
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based on (30) reviews
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filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
Did kids in 1985 "get" Better Off Dead? John Cusack wouldn't become a teen idol until 1989's Say Anything..., and here his combination loser/geek/skiing stud might come off as hard to relate to.
I don't know, I still love this movie, with its bizarre ...read the complete Better Off Dead... movie review at filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
Needcoffee.com - DVD Review
Before the days of Being John Malkovich, John Cusack made his name in Hollywood in exactly one fashion - he was perpetually cast as the vaguely lovable but goofy teenager constantly mooning over any of a variety of girls, and inevitably ending up in love ...read the complete Better Off Dead... movie review at Needcoffee.com - DVD Review
At-A-Glance Film Reviews
"Gee, I'm real sorry your mom blew up, Ricky."
Better Off Dead is a highly rewarding comedy that made me laugh out loud throughout. It's a teen pleaser, technically, and a little nostalgic for me even though I wasn't into this type of movie when I ...read the complete Better Off Dead... movie review at At-A-Glance Film Reviews
DVD Talk (Jason Bovberg)
In the midst of the juvenile-teen-sex-comedy-crammed 1980s, Savage Steve Holland came up with a surprisingly humorous and bright-noggin'd gem that shone forth from out of a celluloid river of fool's gold. Better Off Dead is a joy of a movie that holds up ...read the complete Better Off Dead... movie review at DVD Talk (Jason Bovberg)
Apollo Guide (Janet Branagan)
Rarely does a movieâs title so perfectly captured what the film is all about. Better Off Dead is the story of a down-and-out teenager, Lane Myer ( John Cusack) who finds his life going from bad to worse after losing the âlove of his lifeâ, ...read the complete Better Off Dead... movie review at Apollo Guide (Janet Branagan)
Film Threat (--)
"Better Off Dead" is the kind of movie that people won't really fess up to liking, but I've rarely met anyone who didn't secretly love it passionately. Made by the courageously named Savage Steve Holland, it is on its face a typical teen comedy albeit ...read the complete Better Off Dead... movie review at Film Threat (--)
Moda Magazine (Kage Alan)
John Cusack brought us some damn fine teenage comedies during the 80s before he went and grew up. Of course, he became a damn fine adult actor too, but it was his early roles that first endeared him to us and he has quite the
resume from back then. ...read the complete Better Off Dead... movie review at Moda Magazine (Kage Alan)
Kalamazoo Gazette (James Sanford)
strives to be offbeat and sometimes works itself into a sweat doing so. The humor often hits the bullseye, however... ...read the complete Better Off Dead... movie review at Kalamazoo Gazette (James Sanford)
Movie Views (Ryan Cracknell)
Better Off Dead 's charm stems from its imagination and attitude. ...read the complete Better Off Dead... movie review at Movie Views (Ryan Cracknell)
sbs.is (Stefan Birgir Stefansson)
love love love love it ...read the complete Better Off Dead... movie review at sbs.is (Stefan Birgir Stefansson)
Right Turn Clyde
You know what movie that line is from, it's okay to admit it. And I know that you're also thinking about a hamburger dancing to Van Halen's "Everybody Wants Some" (minus the "conversation" between Diamond Dave and the control booth) which segues ...read the complete Better Off Dead... movie review at Right Turn Clyde
HOLLYWOOD'S C LIST
BETTER OFF DEAD is a classic 80âs comedy with a premise thatâs short and sweet. Our teenage hero, Lane Myer, is heartbroken when his girlfriend of 6 months (Beth) decides to dump him for âsomeone more popular.â What follows is a hilarious romp ...read the complete Better Off Dead... movie review at HOLLYWOOD'S C LIST
Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)
A Nutshell Review
This movie is so typical of the 1980s teenage comedy classics, like Ferris Bueller's Day Off, or Fast Times from Ridgemonth High. It has your typical teenage protagonist, who can be either a complete loser geek, or on the flip side, the coolest dude in ...read the complete Better Off Dead... movie review at A Nutshell Review
Entertainment Insiders
John Cusack stars as Lane Meyer, a high school student whose will to live disappears when his girlfriend, Beth, leaves him for the captain of the school ski team. After several bumbled suicide attempts, Lane believes that he must beat Roy at a downhill ...read the complete Better Off Dead... movie review at Entertainment Insiders
Combustible Celluloid (Jeffrey M. Anderson)
John Cusack established his persona as a Gen X icon with two films, this and The Sure Thing, also released in 1985. In the hilarious and brilliantly deadpan Better Off Dead, he plays a high-schooler who tries to kill himself after his beloved girlfriend ...read the complete Better Off Dead... movie review at Combustible Celluloid (Jeffrey M. Anderson)
Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)
Of all the teen comedies made in the 1980s--and there were oh so many--Savage Steve Holland's Better Off Dead stands on its own as a unique, kooky gem. Call it the nadir of teenage-embarrassment comedy, Better Off Dead strikes chords with anyone who ...read the complete Better Off Dead... movie review at Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)
Audio Revolution
If someone wanted a quintessentially and literally average â not good, not bad, just smack-in-the-middle run-of-the-mill â teen comedy from the mid-â80s, âBetter Off Deadâ fills the bill. Itâs mildly quirky, amiable, predictable and formulaic ...read the complete Better Off Dead... movie review at Audio Revolution
DVD Verdict (Mike Jackson)
For anyone who can safely answer "yes" to that ubiquitous Rhino Records infomercial questionâ"Remember the '80s?"âthere's a handful of movies that defined teen films for the decade. The Breakfast Club. Fast Times At Ridgemont High. Ferris Bueller's ...read the complete Better Off Dead... movie review at DVD Verdict (Mike Jackson)
digitallyOBSESSED.com (Dan Lopez)
Film Frat
Assuming you are old enough to be in college, it's safe to guess that you've had a relationship that hasn't worked out like you wanted. Maybe you initiated the breakup, or, heaven forbid, the other person gave you the heave-ho. No matter what side you're ...read the complete Better Off Dead... movie review at Film Frat
DVD Authority.com (Matt Brighton)
Lane Myer (John Cusack) has seen better days. He's in the midst of trying out for the high school ski team and the love of his life, Beth (Amanda Wyss), is about to dump him for the local ski jock (and Captain of the high school ski team) simply because ...read the complete Better Off Dead... movie review at DVD Authority.com (Matt Brighton)
Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
Better Off Dead would continue the naturally comedic persona of John Cusack in light romantic comedies. Although not a huge hit at the time of release, it would develop an ever-increasing cult audience, and today, it's generally regarded as a classic ...read the complete Better Off Dead... movie review at Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
Better Off Dead would continue the naturally comedic persona of John Cusack in light romantic comedies. Although not a huge hit at the time of release, it would develop an ever-increasing cult audience, and today, it's generally regarded as a classic ...read the complete Better Off Dead... movie review at Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
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