I already did another Cusack favorite when I used Say Anything as my second Preview Review issue. I also published a Top 10 list of my favorite John Cusack movies back in one of my very first issues on this blog in January 2008. He made some of the most classic 80s movies, but I have continued to be a big fan of his through the 90s and to today.

Better Off Dead is more of a black comedy which was both written and directed by Savage Steve Holland. Cusack's character, "Lane Meyer" becomes suicidal after his girlfriend breaks up with him. Now this is not a subject matter that I would consider all that funny, but it all works out fine in the end. In fact, people protested the film's original tagline, "Sometimes...you're Better Off Dead," so it was changed to "Relax...you're never Better Off Dead." The film features a lot of odd scenes as well as plot points which are now considered 80s movie stereotypes. One of those stereotypes is the jerk bully character with "Roy Stalin" filling that role in this film and being included on my Top Bullies from 80s Movies list.

I liked Better Off Dead back in 1985, but I have grown to love it more and more over the years. I did not truly appreciate it back then probably because of my age at the time, but now it is one of my very favorites from that decade. Here is the original trailer for Better Off Dead...

There is a running joke throughout the film where a paperboy is trying to collect his money for delivering papers to the Meyer house. This kid is pretty relentless and here is a video which shows one scene where he is trying to collect his $2...

Cusack's character has an old 1967 Camaro that ends up being a key plot point during the movie. There is an interesting story about a fan of the movie who tracked down the actual car used in the movie. Here is a link to the website where I encourage you to read this interesting story. Click on the circle that says FINDING THE CAMARO.

There is so much more to this movie that I have not even touched on here. I like a quote I read which summarizes it well, "The consensus is Better Off Dead is an anarchic mix of black humor and surreal comedy, anchored by John Cusack's winsome, charming performance." Happy birthday, John. Please keep those charming performances coming.

John Cusack is in the process of filming Hot Tub Time Machine which has a scheduled release in February 2010. Cusack has avoided the 80s related films for a while, but I am very happy to see that he will be venturing back to my favorite decade. The film also stars another 80s legend, Chevy Chase. The general plotline is a group of unsatisfied men are thrown back in time to their younger days in 1986 via their hot tub Jacuzzi. That's all I know right now, but with Cusack and Chase and 1986 all involved, I can't wait to see it.

That'll do it for this issue of Kickin' it Old School. Hope you enjoy the "Preview Review" issues and please let me know if there are any 80s movies that you want to see me cover. Thanks as always for reading. If you are interested in reading any of my other 80s related issues, please click there for a summary of those. You can also always click on the Archives in the upper left hand column or use the Google Search Box at the top of the right hand column to find any other issues you may have missed. If you are a fan of Kickin' it, PLEASE CLICK ON THE FACEBOOK LOGO in the upper right hand column. This will take you to the Fan Page where I ask you to then click on "Become a Fan". Even if you are not a Facebook member yet, please consider joining and registering as a fan at that page. Let other 80s fans know about it as well! Peace and much love.

Check this out: As you know, I like to point out signs that amuse me by being ironic, obvious, unnecessary or just plain unintentionally hilarious. Here is a sign at a beach which falls into one of those categories. Is it really necessary to warn someone about this when you are at the beach?

Quote of the day: "I think when you get to the point where you don't need to be in love, then you could be in love. You have to just be OK with yourself- and that's a long process." -John Cusack