Today I’m participating in Alex Cavanaugh’s Under-Rated Treasures Blog Fest, highlighting books, bands, and movies that don’t get the attention they rightly deserve.
I’ve chosen to feature one of my family’s favorite movies – one that we traditionally watch every year on our family ski vacation: Better Off Dead (1985), starring John Cusack.
Northern California student Lane Myers is hit with a double whammy when he’s cheated out of his place on the high school ski team and his girlfriend Beth dumps him for the obnoxious ski team captain. (“Lane, I think it’d be in my best interest if I dated somebody more popular.”) Unable to face the rejection, Lane decides to end his life, but his attempts at suicide fail in various humorous ways while the French foreign exchange girl next door tries to gain his notice and escape her odious host family.
Better Off Dead never seems to appear on any “Best of the ‘80’s” lists alongside Ferris Bueller, Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club, and Sixteen Candles. But I think it belongs there. My experience with people and this movie is: Either they’ve never heard of it, or like me, it’s one of their all-time favorites and they can practically recite the whole script.
“Go that way. Really Fast. If something gets in your way … Turn.”
If you’re one of the latter, please share your favorite Better Off Dead quote in the comments.
And if you’ve never seen it, you can check out the Quote-Along Film Trailer below!
Haha! Love the film, and all the other ones you mentioned. This really is a great blogfest. I’ve had a great morning reading everyone’s entries. Can’t believe I missed signing up for it.
Awesome movie!!! Now, I want my two dollars…
Thanks for participating in my blogfest.
Haven’t heard of this, but it sounds really good. And I really like John Cusak. And looking at your author appearances, looks like you’re going to have a busy Fall.
Sounds like a great movie and I really like John Cusak. And looking at your author appearances, sounds like you’ll be busy this Fall.
Can’t go wrong with John Cusak at any rate. I’ll set my DVR to record this movie when it turns up. Thx for the suggestion.
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Never heard of it 🙂 But now I’ll have to find it, since it’s not available to stream on Netflix and you’ve piqued my interest!
I have heard of that movie since I was in my 20’s in the 80’s but I have never seen it. I will have to watch out for this as it seems to be a great black comedy which I enjoy
I have never seen this, but have heard many a quote from it. I may have to give it a watch, one of these days.
Great site, by the way!
The title sounds familiar, but I cannot remember if I’ve seen it. So I should probably watch it again! 🙂
I have such fond memories of Better of Dead. Great choice.
I’ve not seen Better Off Dead. I have seen all four of the other movies you mentioned. Thanks for sharing your movie pick for the Underrated Treasures Blogfest.
Thanks for sharing your pick, Dianne. I don’t believe I’ve seen the movie before, but now I’ll look for it if I’m in the mood for an ’80s movie.
I haven’t seen this one, but that’s not so strange since I’m not a movie lover. I do like movies with a humorous touch.
I’ve seen Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club, and Sixteen Candles but not Better off Dead. How did that happen? :0 Thanks for sharing!
Oh, wow. Now this is a movie I must see. I love all of the Brat Pack movies, so I know I’ll love this one. Thanks for sharing!
I think I’ve seen all those movies at least once. Thought they were all okay but never fell in love with them. Maybe I need to watch them again.
I’ve never seen Better Off Dead, but then, I was pretty young when it came out. According to my cousin, I missed a lot of good fun because I was too young in the 80’s.
“I want my two dollars!” Ahem. I mean . . . Thank you for including Better Off Dead – it’s one of my faves from the 80s, and it’s a movie that my husband and I both love. 🙂
Yeah, this movie is hilarious…. I want my two dollars!
Hi Dianne – never seen it or heard of it .. but I was in South Africa in the 80s .. so not surprising. From the trailer I can see you’d enjoy the movie when you’re all skiing and on holiday .. cheers Hilary
This looks so familiar, but I’m not sure if I saw it or just remember the advertisements for it. Darn memory holes!
This is one of my all-time favorite movies. In college, we watched it constantly. This reminds me that I need to watch it again! Thanks!
Wow! I’d forgotten about this one, but I love anything John C. is in. I may have to put it into my Netflix list. Thanks for the reminder.