MovieChat Forums > Defending Your Life (1991) Discussion > Seemed really good but no.

Seemed really good but no.

posted 12 years ago by standrkm
8 replies | jump to latest

(Again this is just my own opinion)

It had great potential, I mean the idea itself was just brilliant. But it ends up being just some repetitive courtroom type flashback sci-fi film. The jokes were NEVER funny. The entire time I'm just sitting there wishing Woody Allen and Dianne Keaton would replace them but it never happened :(. They yack about brain size and then supposedly fall in love and it's just silly. Seriously starts off pretty good then the delicious soup turns cold. Anyway that's my two cents. I actually watched some more early 90's stuff right before this that weren't that bad at all "heart burn" was pretty good. Recently saw Streep in "Doubt" and it was fantastic.

Ronpaulfestival.org Tampa, FL August 24-26, Happy 77 Ron!

[–] Lisa_Kay 12 years ago

I love this movie, it has a special place in my list of favorites. But I agree it had even more potential and that makes me sad. Part of me wishes someone would do a remake, but we all know it would probably suck because no remakes are ever good these days.

I also agree that some of the courtroom sessions and flashbacks take up a little too much time in the movie. I would have rather seen more scenes of them in judgment city; which was where all the fun of this movie really was.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] standrkm 12 years ago

I agree.
I rarely ever recommend remakes but would like to see this one done and "corrected".

"the day I tried to live, I learned that I was alive"

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] madhattar 11 years ago

Just re-watched it thinking it used to be funny but wow was I wrong, but i am so surprised at all the positive feedback on here for a film that is quite dated but still slow and not that funny.

and to also reply tot he last post here, i was also thinking about a remake during the film as the premise is interesting but nothing was done to it and a remake would cannot be any worse than this.

have a good day

[–] smoko 11 years ago

@standrkm The concept does have a Woody Allen vibe to it, seeing as he's famously obsessed with death.

It gave me some great laughs, but I guess I would've liked it to explore the humor more, rather than the dramatic element of Daniel wanting to "move forward." The conversations Daniel had with the other dead people were hilarious, like with the old lady and the "all-nude" guy - I just wish he got to speak to more of them.

Like others on this thread, I think DYL is great remake material. Get John C. Reilly on the phone, stat.

[–] standrkm 11 years ago

Yeah it's on my list of maybe 5 films I'd actually want to see remade. A few of those films are "the howling", "capricorn one"....I forget the rest. But of course I have little faith in them being any better than the originals honestly. Call me a risk taker. haha

"the day I tried to live, I learned that I was alive"

[–] WarpedRecord 11 years ago

I think this film takes a wrong turn when it shifts from existentialism to romantic comedy. With all due respect to Ms. Streep, her character derails this film. 7/10 stars from me, with the potential to be so much more.