MovieChat Forums > Better Off Dead... (1985) Discussion > Was this movie written by a child? Dumb ...

Was this movie written by a child? Dumb and Cheesy.

posted 13 years ago by waters-9
19 replies | jump to latest

This felt like an extended version of Nickelodeon's "You Can't Do That On Television".

I've heard good things about this movie, but was so disappointed.

It seems like a parody of an 80s movie, except that it came out at the same time as any movies it would be spoofing.

The mom can't cook! Ha! Get it?
The Dad gets the slang wrong. Ha! Get it?
The brother's an evil genius....and there's a foreign exchange student and wacky neighbors! The high school students look thirty years old.

The comedy is just so broad here. It makes Larry the Cable Guy's act seem sophisticated.

...or maybe I was just in a bad mood when I watched it....

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] waters-9 13 years ago

What does that mean?

If I like a movie, I'll say so. I like John Cusack movies. I think he plays smart and subtle well, and this was neither.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] mr_skandl 13 years ago

Sounds like you need to cultivate your sense of humor. This movie is epic. Lots of quotable lines, merged with a bunble of zany Hughes-esque sight gags and cooky cliches= A GREAT DARK COMEDY. Also, "You Can't do That on Television" was a REALLY good show. So, your attempt at derision falls short, and actually morphs into a compliment.

"The key is, you've got to be crazy to maintain your sanity"

[–] arvig 12 years ago

@waters-9/OP: I wouldn't judge it as harshly as you would, it's not a classic by any means but it is memorable to me. It is cheesy sure, but at least it is more quirky then a lot of the other 80's teen comedy films out there.

And eh, if you didn't like it, then you didn't like it. I did but not like I'd go out of my way to watch it if it was on today, although I would record it probably to watch it a few days later.

[–] bizzniss 12 years ago

You are the definition of a classic troll. "You was in a bad mood when you watched it?" Nuff said. Why post that it was a bad movie when it's clearly obvious that you're just a bad person.

You don't like an 80's zany comedy for being an 80's zany comedy. LMAO!

[–] m_wonderful 12 years ago

Yes, it's cheesy and silly. It's supposed to be.

Good grief, some of you wannabes, get a life. It's hilarious all the way through, funny and sweet, a bunch of running gags.

Just pop it in and enjoy, Poindexters.

[–] Chicago816 12 years ago

Cusack, is that you?

Would you be prepared if gravity reversed itself?

[–] matmcv 10 years ago

Nice one - bit low, but funny!

[–] ilovejuliandfefe 11 years ago

Sometimes you might need to think a little like a child to dig some movies. Take the Wizard of Oz. A lot of adults are still in love with it. Better off Dead is cute. It is just a little different, but it teaches a lesson to never give up and has a funny way of getting the point across. That's a good movie for you.

I like cats named nightmare. I have a "nightmare" every night!

[–] jdchisholm 10 years ago

I totally agree with you on this craptastic movie. It was far too dumb and cheesy. Everything was so exagerrated, Mom can't cook, Dad an imbecile, etc. The blond nemesis (who looked a poor man's Ted McGinley) was named Stalin?! I know there were a lot of cheesy movies in the 80s, but this movie isn't even enjoyable.

[–] sonofbeach-sheet 10 years ago

And the comment about the teens looking 30? Well, until the 1990's-early 2000's, teens generally looked like normal young people and could actually carry on a conversation with others, even adults. Nowadays, especially boys, they are just plain goofy looking

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] jdchisholm 10 years ago

I can't believe that either. It should have a 1.0!