Diane and I were planning which Broadway shows to see in May and one of the contenders was the musical version of Death Becomes Her (1992). Although Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, Isabella Rossellini, and Bruce Willis star in this Robert Zemeckis film, somehow we missed this 30 years ago. So we watched Death Becomes Her on Peacock.
Meryl Streep plays Madeline Ashton, an actress whose age signals the approaching end of her career. Ashton marries brilliant plastic surgeon Ernest Menville (Bruce Willis) after stealing him from her “friend” Helen Sharp (Goldie Hawn).
After a decade, Helen writes a best selling self-help beauty book. Madeline, whose marriage to Ernest is as dead as her acting career, desperately makes a deal with the mysterious Lisle (Isabella Rossellini) to restore her youth. But Helen plots with Ernest to get revenge on Madeline and the plot veers off into silliness.
As you might have suspected, Diane and I decided to pass on the musical version of Death Becomes Her. GRADE: C+
Good call. The premise of this movie was dated 33 years ago—and I can’t imagine that it’s aged well. Broadway must be desperate if they’re turning to fodder like this.
Deb, turning DEATH BECOMES HER into a musical is a reach.
It’s been decades since I have seen the film, but I remember it being underwhelmingly cute.
Jerry, DEATH BECOMES HER has a great cast…and a silly plot.
Me too! I saw the movie when it came out and agree with your review.
We have tickets for three shows when we get home:
Gypsy – with Audra McDonald
Old Friends – Sondheim
Dead Outlaw – Jackie says it was a big hit off-Broadway last year.
Jeff, glad you agree with my assessment of DEATH BECOMES HER. Right now, our Mothers’ Day trip shows are OLD FRIENDS, REDWOOD, and OPERATION: MINCEMEAT. Katie is busy booking them. Patrick and Katie will have some “surprises” for Diane while we’re in NYC. I’ll have to look at DEAD OUTLAW.