Year: 1991
Director: Albert Brooks
Country: US
Language: English
Previously I've seen/reviewed Albert Brooks' Lost in America (1985) and Mother (1996). Enjoying them both tremendously as a great mesh of drama and comedy. Defending Your Life (1991) was next on my random Brooks' list. I had high expectations for it and am proud to say that it exceeded them. The afterlife has never been so funny, while simultaneously being incredibly heartfelt.
Daniel Miller (Albert Brooks) is killed in a car accident and goes to Judgment City, a waiting room for the afterlife. During the day, he must prove in a courtroom-style process that he successfully overcame his fears. If he wins he stays in Heaven, if he loses he is reincarnated on Earth. At night he falls in love with a beautiful young woman named Julia (Meryl Streep).
My wife and I have said for many years that our ideal version of Heaven has a buffet, where the food tastes wonderful all the time & you can never get fat. This movie's version of heaven has exactly that! It's so blissful to see them eat to their heart's content! This is also the butt of many jokes "Do you want nine pies? I make you nine pies!" The writing is remarkable; never compromising the heart of the picture for Brooks' observational comedy.
Defending Your Life is a lovely picture that will encourage you to be more courageous in your own love life. Perhaps you may spend more time with your loved ones and cease some grand moment with them. It's almost as good as It's a Wonderful Life (1946) in the way it sweeps you off your feet and puts your head in the clouds.
I look forward to watching more of Brooks' filmography in the coming months. His comedy is remarkable; certainly a style of humour that doesn't droll or become boring with each passing film. Defending Your Life is a hidden gem in American cinema.
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