Better Off Dead

Better Off Dead stars John Cusack (Class, Sixteen Candles, The Sure Thing, Say Anything)  in one of his first breakout and most defining of roles. He carries the movie for sure. Cusack plays Lane Meyer, a hopeless romantic whose girl trades him in for a better model, with a nicer car and who is a better skier. He does everything within his power to win his girl back. For his efforts, he gets a worse job, his crappy car gets crappier, and his ex-girls boyfriend appears even more winning; all which solidifies his ex's decision to leave him.

Better Off Dead is another movie I saw back in 1985 while living in Germany compliments of the US Army. You never know when you see a movie, whether or not it will become a cult classic or not. That's the case with Better Of Dead. However, I wasn't so sure back when I first saw it. At the time I thought the kid screaming "I want my two dollars", was detracting from the movie. However, 29 years later, it is one of the parts that definitely defines this movie. Another famous scene includes Lane's mother, Jenny Meyer (Kim Darby),and her introduction of the evening meal. Here she serves the foreign exchange student (Diane Franklin), "franch fries, franch dressing and franch bread".

You never really know what will happen with the cast of an 80's movie. I also thought we might see more of the totally hot Franklin who plays the french student, but that was not the case. Though she looked great and did an awesome job, it seems she didn't make too many more movies. A quick internet search still proves she's still got it and she has released a few shorts. Hopefully she'll be resurrected for future movies.

Surprisingly David Ogden Stiers (MASH), breaks free from his Major Charles Emerson Winchester III role. He plays a bitchin' California dad who tries to hold it together with his very strange wife, suicidal teen and rocket scientist pre-teen.

Will Lane get the girl back? Will he beat the champion skier?

Find out in Better Off Dead.