Defending Your Life

Starring: Albert Brooks, Meryl Streep, Rip Torn
Directed by: Albert Brooks
Rating: PG
Genre:
Box Office: $
1991

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: After a cowardly man (Albert Brooks) is killed, he awakens to find himself in Judgment City, where he will go on trial for his life. If found worthy, he will move on, if not, he will go back to earth until he gets it right. In the city, he meets another recently deceased (Meryl Streep), and the two fall in love. However, as the judgments get closer to being handed out, they realize how little time they have.

Review:

Tim: It took me years to finally track down this movie after I saw several scenes and was fascinated by it. I love this interpretation of the afterlife: watching your life and having to defend how you lived is a pretty interesting concept.

Albert Brooks is actually pretty charming and hilarious in the role. I don't really consider myself a fan by any means, but he is very likeable here. This is probably the best performance of his I've seen. He wrote and directed the film as well, so he gets the thumbs up from me on this project.

Meryl Streep is amazing as well. I haven't really seen too much of her work, but she is pretty incredible in this role. She and Brooks geniunely have chemistry together. That seems a bit unlikely, but they make sparks regardless.

The film takes a lighthearted and fun approach to itself. It is definitely a very funny movie. Brooks cracks some very funny jokes and manages to be completely likeable throughout.

The best part of the movie is that it makes us think about what it would be like after we die to watch our life- our successes as well as our embarrassing and undesirable moments.

Defending Your Life is a small movie that feels big. I really enjoyed it.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The In-Laws, Mother, Sleeper, Stuck Together