MovieChat Forums > Death Becomes Her (1992) Discussion > The beginning was hilarious (spoilers)

The beginning was hilarious (spoilers)

posted 7 years ago by tgemberl
4 replies | jump to latest

I loved the first 20 minutes or so. The obese Helen trying to get one more view of Madelyn being strangled as they came to evict her was like John Waters at his very best. But after they drank the potion and the film started to focus more on visual effects, it became kind of a letdown for me. It was as if "they have this gimmick, a potion that restores youth, and now we have to wait to see how that plays out."

I realize a lot of Bruce Willis's great acting is in the last part. I don't want to take away from his achievement, but for me personally, his character was not as important as the Streep and Hawn characters. He was okay as the weak fiance and husband established at the beginning.

"Extremism in the pursuit of moderation is no vice."

[–] sander1982 7 years ago

There were a lot of scenes cut out that didn't involve special effects. Bruce Willis had another 'love' interest Toni (Tracy Ullman) that might have balanced out the movie a bit more, but since they decided (after multiple test screenings) to ditch the Original ending her scenes were also cut out.

There is definately 20 minutes cut (scenes like Madeline in Dakota's bedroom, Ernest drinking at the bar Dominicks where Toni works, Ernest meeting Helen in her hotelroom, Ernest getting Madeline out of a fridge up the stairs, the Original ending in Swiss Alpes)

[–] tgemberl 7 years ago

Yes, maybe those Tracy Ullman scenes would've balanced it out more. But I guess they thought the special effects were more important.

"Extremism in the pursuit of moderation is no vice."

[–] Strannger (2007) 7 years ago

I felt the script retreated the vat scenes. It was basically him complaint about the girls and to Hel

[–] Drooch (5333) 3 years ago

I agree that the film starts well but then once Goldie is no longer fat and sympathetic it loses momentum - there’s no protagonist.

In the third act they try to make Willis the protagonist but he’s a schlubby, alcoholic, premeditated murder accomplice and isn’t much to root for.

The effects and gags prop up the corpse, but the critics were right that this needed more character development and a clearer plot.

A fun curiosity nonetheless.