Search - Better Off Dead on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Adult Language, Adult Humor Movie Release: 1985 DVD Release: 07/16/2002 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Edition: Special Collection Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 37 mins Studio: Paramount Members Wishing: 38 Genres: Comedy, Romantic Comedy, Teen Movie See Also: Better Off Dead [I Love the 80's Edition], Better Off Dead [Circuit City Exclusive] [Checkpoint]

Most animation aficionados of the 1990s know "Savage Steve Holland" as the cocreator (with Bill Kopp) of the all-stops-out TV cartoon series Eek! The Cat. But Holland had been exercising his own peculiar brand of deviltry on live characters long before Eek! came into being. In Holland's Better Off Dead, John Cusack plays a lovestruck teenager, hopelessly enamored with Amanda Wyss. When she dumps him in favor of a more popular high-schooler, the boy's entire day quickly goes to Hell. In the words of Hamlet, all occasions do inform against Cusack: he is bullied, tormented and torn apart by everyone from the paperboy (who seemingly turns up everywhere) to the disembodied voice of a radio deejay. Cusack attempts suicide, but his efforts are just as unsuccessful-and amusing-as Bud Cort's in Harold and Maude. Meanwhile, French exchange student Diane Franklin, held a virtual prisoner by her host family, develops a long-distance crush on Cusack. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

John Cusack - Lane Myer
David Ogden Stiers - Al Myer
Kim Darby - Jenny Myer
Demian Slade - Johnny Gasparini
Scooter Stevens - Badger Myer
Diane Franklin - Monique Junet
Amanda Wyss - Beth Truss

Savage Steve Holland's cult comedy favorite Better Off Dead finally makes its way to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Stereo. English subtitles are accessible. There are no supplemental materials of any consequence, which is a disappointing surprise considering how popular this film has remained with its cult audience. Paramount has done a fine job with the picture and sound quality, but dropped the ball in the area of extras. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide