Death Becomes Her
Spoilers for Death Becomes Her to follow.
In terms of Bruce’s career, once again everything on paper makes perfect sense. Starring in a big budget, effects driven comedy directed by Robert Zemeckis (who previously helmed another mega successful effects driven comedy Who Framed Roger Rabbit? 4 years prior, not to mention a Back to the Future or three) and co starring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn (!) was a no-brainer at the time. The film itself is a pitch black comedy about immortality that I believe features not only one of Bruce’s funniest performances, but also one of his best, period.
Clearly Bruno was no stranger to comedy at the time, his first notable starring role was on an hour long romantic comedy on TV after all, but Death Becomes Her features some serious A List talent. Director Zemeckis had clearly proven more than once that he knew his way around studio comedies, and well, Meryl Streep is Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn is Goldie Hawn. So it really speaks to Bruce’s star power and talent (he’s actually billed before Streep in the opening credits!) that he got to come and play with these guys.
In the film he plays Dr. Ernest Melville, a famed plastic surgeon that is engaged to Hawn’s character. One night, they go see a performance of Hawn’s lifelong “friend” Streep, who is starring in a new Broadway play (that is apparently a real stinker). Streep, who has made a lifelong habit of stealing men away from Hawn, does so again here, as the film cuts to Willis and Streep walking down the aisle instead of Bruce and Goldie. Flash forward 14 years, Streep in now a washed up, aged actress and Bruce is an alcoholic undertaker. From here, the film throws in some magic potion shenanigans that grants immortality as your best, younger self and the two rivals begin to fight over Willis, and all kinds of weird effects/make up themed humor ensues.
It goes without saying that Streep and Hawn absolutely kill their comedic roles with skill and an unfair amount of ease, so I won’t waste your time gushing about those two powerhouses. Instead, let’s gush over baby Bruno. This boy absolutely brings it. Covered in make up to age him about 15/20 years, Bruce uses that trademark regret filled face to amazing comedic effect (there is one scene where Streep and Wills, sitting in a silence that indicates love left the marriage long ago, are both staring out the opposite windows of their limo, and I simply could not stop cackling at Willis’ dead eyes and expressionless face).
But that’s not all! He delivers some of the films funniest lines with a manic energy that I honestly don’t think I’ve seen from the actor before or since. His delivery of “The Morgue?!?! She’ll be furious!!” upon learning that his clinically dead but somehow still alive wife was taken to the morgue is a thing of true beauty. There’s also his perfect Double Take when he sees Maryl has stolen a shotgun that would make any Looney Tunes character jealous. And the way he simply says “What?” with a smile after getting a vase smashed into his head is just, it’s heaven. Willis is 100% committed to the bit (he even gets an A+ pratfall in for good measure) and now that I think about it it makes me sad that we never got to see him at this level comedically on the big screen again.
The film as a whole isn’t as entirely successful, despite everyone involved bringing their A game. The pace is a bit slow and a surprising amount of jokes fall flat, but the weird tone, amazing effects and insanely funny performances have kept this a favorite of mine all these years.
Death Becomes Her grossed $58 million domestically and $149 million worldwide off a $55 million budget, so like The Last Boy Scout, the movie wasn’t a bomb by any means, but given the pedigree in front of and behind the camera, expectations were certainly high. Still, the film has gone on to have a somewhat small but fervent fanbase (myself included) and was at the very least no where near as disastrous as The Bonfire of the Vanities from just two years prior. Yes sir, Bruce was still at the top of Hollywood. For now, at least.