Classic Review: Death Becomes Her (1992)

What can you say about a comedy that largely plays out its hand during its first ten minutes?

Death Becomes Her is at its most uproariously funny when it is moving through its introduction at a rapid-fire pace. Zemeckis efficiently sets up the foundations of the story and uses smash cuts to great effect, as he knows that we can predict exactly what will happen, based on the limited amount of information that we have been provided with. The story begins with Helen Sharp (Hawn), a mousy author who has always resented her glamorous, seductive friend Madeline Ashton (Streep). Ashton has stolen several of Sharp’s boyfriends in the past and Sharp decides to introduce her latest beau, Ernest Menville (Willis), to her frenemy. Ashton is performing in an unsuccessful musical and Sharp is deeply disappointed when Menville falls under her spell. In no time at all, Menville breaks up with Sharp and marries Ashton. This sends Sharp into a downward spiral and she becomes financially destitute and morbidly obese. 

The opening is the high point of Death Becomes Her as it never seemed to reach the same heights during its slightly convoluted second and third acts. The opening scenes are so funny because they play on our expectations. As soon as the socially awkward, nebbish Menville is confronted with a blonde goddess, he simply can’t contain himself. His response to her on-stage performance is comical, as he sits there gobsmacked and proceeds to enthusiastically cheer her on as the show comes to a close. The casting of Willis isn’t exactly inspired but it is fun to see him mocking his image as the ultimate alpha male. He’s a good sport when it comes to playing a moron and never tries to steal scenes from the female leads. He is well used as a beta male who is putty in the hands of a manipulative minx. However, the real genius of the set-up is that it lets us know that this will be the story of the two women fighting for his affection. They are established as totally immoral and they view the world around them with the sort of cynicism that doesn’t usually make its way into mainstream comedies. The film’s insistence on turning both of them into termagants who have no illusions about the way that men treat women of a certain age is still refreshing. Throughout the film, Menville will be used as a pawn by both of the women as they try to outwit one another. 

The delightful bitchiness of the women is something to be savored and Hawn and Streep both appear to be having the time of their lives. The former has often stuck playing dumb blondes in fish out of water comedies that asked her to act foolish. The latter was facing a lot of backlash for frequently appearing in prestige pictures that required her to learn a new accent and appear regal and dignified. Hawn gets to ham it up as she has often done but has slightly more backbone than usual and a co-star with a higher profile than hers. She seems completely at home in a comedy like this and effortlessly delivers most of her biggest punchlines. Streep is on shakier ground and doesn’t quite knock it out of the park on her first time around. It does quickly become clear that she was not the most experienced comedienne and some of her line deliveries sound a bit strained. It isn’t one of her most assured performances, but it still feels risky and experimental by Streep standards. Considering the fact that she would soon return to safe territory and chase awards glory with roles in bland, anonymously directed dramas, this stands out as a fleetfooted gagfest. 

Death Becomes Her begins to lose a bit of its shine when the real plot kicks in and the plot becomes more complicated. Ashton consumes a magical potion which gives her the gift of eternal life. She will not age if she takes care of her body, but has to retreat from the public eye after ten years. Sharp also took this potion and bursts back into Menville’s life, ready to ‘save’ him from an unhappy marriage to Ashton. Sharp tries to convince Menville to murder Ashton so that they can be together, but Ashton is now immortal. The two women engage in a fierce battle but eventually realize that they cannot kill one another. They hatch a plan to entrap Menville and force him to perform cosmetic surgery procedures on their bodies. When Menville catches wind of this plan, all hell breaks loose. 

The second act tries to introduce commentary into the mix and this attempt is not entirely successful. The film doesn’t completely fail to make its points about sexism within the entertainment industry, the way that women are pitted against one another and the stupidity of men who mindlessly chase after younger women. All of these points are valid and they give the screenplay a bit of extra bite but they’re also rather obvious. There is nothing unexpected or risqué about the film’s satirical tone and it could have tried to go further in attacking the sexism that causes women to feel painfully self conscious about their looks. 

Death Becomes Her is certainly fun but it also a film that never seemed to ever reach its full potential. 

still courtesy of Universal Pictures

Follow me on Twitter.

If you liked this, please read our other reviews here and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter or Instagram or like us on Facebook.

Zita Short

I am passionate about screwball comedies from the 1930s and certain actresses from the Golden Age of Hollywood. I’ll aim to review new Netflix releases and write features, so expect a lot of romantic comedies and cult favourites.