I Love You To Death

I'm feeling kind of dirty about my last entry...wow, that sounds naughty. So today, I'm going to make it up to you and elevate this site back to a somewhat respectable place. Since I'm on a Star Wars kick this week, I'm going to take a look back at The Force Awaken's co-writer Lawrence Kasdan's forgotten 1990 comedy I Love You To Death.

Kasdan is no stranger to the Star Wars universe. He actually got his start co-writing The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi, not to mention Raiders Of The Lost Ark. With that kind of track record, it wasn't long before he was in the director's seat. He helmed such instant classics as Body Heat, The Big Chill, Silverado, The Accidental Tourist, and Grand Canyon. As great as those pictures are, I think that I Love You To Death might be his best work as a filmmaker.

Kasdan regular Kevin Kline stars as Joey Boca, owner of a popular pizza parlor. Loved by the community and adored by his wife Rosa, Tracey Ullman, he seems to have it all. He has a problem though, his libido is out of control and he beds just about every young lady he crosses paths with.

When Rosa learns of his infedility, she turns to her mother, Joan Plowright, for guidance. Together they hatch a plan to murder him by poisoning his spaghetti with sleeping pills. When this fails to work and just makes him sleepy, they turn to Devo, River Phoenix, an employee at the parlor who has a crush on Rosa. Knowing that he will do anything for her, they ask Devo to shoot Joey. He reluctantly agrees, but he looks away when he fires. The bullet only grazes Joey. Knowing he doesn't have the stomach to go through with it, Devo seeks out two drugged out lowlifes Harlan and Marlon, another Kasdan regular William Hurt and Keanu Reeves, to finsih the job. This complicates matters even more.

Based on an odd but true story, this movie is hysterical. Kasdan has a talent for assembling great casts and this is no exception. Kline does a stereotypical Italian guy, but he is so good that you don't even care. He's one of those actor's who can do just about anything, even a stereotype, and not be offensive. Ullman tones down her wackiness and makes Rosa someone the audience can sympathize with, even with murder on the mind. Shakespearean trained Plowright proves she can do American comedy. Phoenix is also funny as the mild mannered Devo. I think it's Hurt and Reeves though that steal the picture though. Their scenes really had me laughing hard. Reeves has never been better.

Like I said earlier, I think this is Kasdan's best picture. I'm surprised that it wasn't a bigger hit. If you are in the mood for a funny, black comedy, you need to add this to your list.

Available on dvd.