Better Off Dead (1985) Movie Reaction | FIRST TIME WATCHING 

Thank you to all who recommended this one. I had never heard of it before I started this channel which is half the fun of doing this! I believe I'm the 3rd person to react to this on RU-vid, for better or worse. 😂 Oh, there's a part where I misspoke saying this was Amanda Wyss' 2nd movie, I meant 2nd movie after NOES but it doesn't come off that way. It happens. haha

My sisters and I would yell at each other "I want my 2 dollars!" We could never not laugh🤣🤣

Better Off Dead is such a great dark comedy. So many weird little bits (the Japanese brothers, the burger scene, the little brother, the paperboy) all come together for such a fantastic movie. And I love that EG Daily song. Be sure not to miss Savage Steve Holland, John Cusack and Curtis Armstrong together again in One Crazy Summer.

Any person that knows the quotes "I want my two dollars" and "Gee, Ricky I'm really sorry your mom blew up" is instantly my best friend.

This is one of my favorites from back in the day, so many iconic lines. The Van Halen claymation sequence is one of the best.🤘🏻👏

Maybe a lot of younger people wouldn't know it, but that asian guy's Howard Cossell impression is 100% on point.

Oh, this takes me back... Loved this movie and its companion piece "One Crazy Summer." My understanding is that Savage Steve Holland actually based this story off his own experience being dumped in HS. Apparently, when the lady learned this after seeing the movie, she was horrified to realize how badly she had hurt him at the time.

HAHAHAHA! Be 14 year old me. Go to see this with my mom. My mom was a serial vaccuumer and a terrible cook. The whole "I put raisens in it, you like raisens..." scene absolutely killed me! She turned to me, and in a rare state of absolute lucidity, asked me, "You're laughing at me right now, aren't you?". Yes mom. Yes I am. She's 72 now and I still tease her about this.

"Now that's a real shame when folks be throwin' away a perfectly good white boy like that." This movie is insane, outrageous, and I love it. Fun Fact: Al Myer is David Ogden Stiers, best known for his role as Major Charles Winchester on M*A*S*H (1972). Location Location Fact: "Savage" Steve Holland made this film under schedule and under budget. Most was shot in Los Angeles, except for the various ski scenes, which were filmed in Snowbird, Utah. Nightmare Connection Fact: When Beth (Amanda Wyss) shows up at the high school dance, the person standing behind her is wearing a sweater extremely similar to Freddy Krueger's. As you might know, Amanda Wyss played Krueger's first victim in A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984). Based Off True Events Fact: According to Savage Steve Holland, the film is mostly autobiographical. Holland really was suicidal when his high school girlfriend left him for captain of the ski team. Also, he really did have a paperboy named Johnny Gasparini who would harass him for two dollars. According to Holland, when the film came out, the ex-girlfriend contacted him to apologize.

Grossly underrated movie with an amazing soundtrack.

John Cusack leads in Grosse Pointe Blank in the mid-90's. It's not a coming of age theme, but instead a coming back to the 10 year reunion type movie with a heavy dose of surreal action. If you haven't seen it, give it a shot. Great cast and a killer music soundtrack.

The paper boy showing up everywhere for his 2 dollars is hilarious, especially when he came from behind the trees on the ski slopes...LOL!!!

A little trivia: According to Savage Steve Holland (director of this film), the film is mostly autobiographical. Holland really was suicidal when his high school girlfriend left him for the captain of the ski team. Also, he really did have a paperboy named Johnny Gasparini who would harass him for two dollars. According to Holland, when the film came out, the ex-girlfriend contacted him to apologize. Also, John Cusack apparently saw the film while working on another Savage Steve Holland movie, One Crazy Summer, and wasn't pleased. He was reportedly furious with Holland, although other cast and crew members showed him the movie was getting favorable reviews. He appears to have mellowed on the subject somewhat in recent years.

I never realized the dark humor in this film when I was younger. It was just silly fun.

Somehow this popped up in my feed. Don't know why, but glad it did. Every time my buddies and i go skiing we quote this movie: "Have you any idea what the street value of this mountain is?" and "Go that way real fast. If something gets in your way. Turn." The 1st time my son went skiing my daughter, 6yo at the time, told her brother "Go that way, real fast. If something gets in the way... turn."

That’s my friend’s parent’s house in Glendale, CA. They still live there, but the house has been remodeled inside. My friend’s little sister’s bedroom was Cusack’s bedroom.

Diane Franklin also co-stars in “The Last American Virgin,” which is a pretty ordinary “losin’ it”-type 80s teen comedy, except for the ending, which is AMAZING.

The Mailman was Taylor Negron. The unsung hero of 80s movies. He's very funny in "Young Doctors in Love".

This movie has always been a guilty pleasure of mine, glad someone did a reaction for it. If you enjoyed it, consider watching One Crazy Summer which has a very similar tone. Made the following year with the same writer, same director, also starring John Cusack with Curtis Armstrong again. Demi Moore co-stars along with a great supporting cast.

I have never been happier that I found your channel seeing this reaction! My husband and I loved it as teens, and still laugh at 2 dollars 😂

I've always loved this movie. My sister and her daughter have coordinting tatoos from this movie - "It has raisins in it" and "You like raisins."

Love it! An underrated 80s classic since it came out. Thanks Jay! And don't forget Revenge of the Nerds!

17:48 - Not a coincidence. The guy wore a Freddy sweater as a nod to Amanda's role in Nightmare on Elm Street.

This is one of my favorite, under-appreciated 80's movies. The way I describe it to people who haven't seen it is that it's a John Hughes film, done as a live-action cartoon. "Savage" Steve Holland would go on to create Eek! The Cat with Bill Kopp in the 90's-- also an under-appreciated masterpiece. Edit: 24:55 - The minivan was still a couple years from being introduced, or at least accepted as mainstream when this came out, and if you had a typical nuclear family, you needed something that could comfortably seat 4 and hold lots of luggage for trips to Grandma's for Christmas. And they WERE practically indestructible-- a friend of mine and I went out in the snow one year with his family's gigantic Chevy Impala wagon, and just did donuts and tore ass around empty parking lots until we ended up in a ditch. We were able to get it out ourselves, and in spite of losing all 4 hubcaps, the car was completely fine for years afterward.

Another great John Cusack/Savage Steve Holland collaboration is One Crazy Summer.

Dan Schneider plays Ricky in this movie. He later would create, write, and/or produce the comedy series All That, Drake & Josh, Game Shakers, Henry Danger, Kenan & Kel, Sam & Cat, The Adventures of Kid Danger, The Amanda Show, Victorious, What I Like About You, Zoey 101 and iCarly on Nickelodeon. He has been called out for being a sexual predator while producing those shows

The mom is also Miri from the classic Star Trek episode "Miri". The Dad is Major Winchester from M*A*S*H and guest starred in Star Trek TNG

Man, you watch all the great classics! All the movies that I watched and loved growing up as a teenager. They rarely make movies like these anymore. "I want my two dollars!"

All the actors he recognized in this movie, but he didn't notice Chozen from The Karate Kid part 2. Also, everytime someone asks Lane if he minds if they take Beth out, he is imagining it, including seeing her in the teacher's car

I miss the 80’s. I was 10 years old in 1985, and I remember my first time seeing this in 1985, just like it was yesterday. I really miss the 80’s. We so took for granted the wonderful world and time it was back then, we sorta just assumed it would always be. Ahhh well….

Another underrated John Cusack movie Hot Pursuit (1987) teen/ comedy Back then Daine Franklin was one of many 80's crushes along with phoebe cates and Betsy Russell

My favorite 80’s comedy. I’ve owned it on VHS, DVD and now streaming. I’ve seen it hundreds of times. I saw this in the theater when it first came out and had to go see it a couple of times soon after to hear the lines I missed due to the uproarious laughter. I’m glad you liked this crazy movie.

I had a pretty cool boss years ago who loved this movie like I did. When she was having a bad day, I would walk by and yell softly "2dollars!" Never failed to get a grin! 😆

I really like that you know all the names of the bit players and character actors in the cast. You're my people! Taylor Negron is the name of the mailman, who was also the pizza delivery guy in Fast Times. He passed away recently.

I tend to like movies that aren't quite like anything else and this was definitely a favorite growing up in the 80's! Thanks man!

OMG that burger part was one of my favorites especially because it was a Van Halen song and the burger has Eddie's guitar.🤘🎸

I loved this reaction and thank you for going away from the same old same old that most reactors are doing. If you want another fun and obscure movie, I would recommend "Greedy" from 1994. It has a hell of a cast including (Michael J. Fox, Kirk Douglass, Nancy Travis, Olivia d'Abo, Phil Hartman, and Ed Begley Jr.).

"Kid just got 'Mac & Me'd'" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I SPIT MY WATER OUT HAHAHAHA. Subscribed just because of that!! 😀

This and One Crazy Summer were two of my favorite comedies growing up.

I find it equally hilarious and impressive that you seem to know every single horror movie any actor or actress has ever been in haha

Thanks for doing this reaction. Been waiting to see someone do it. 1st watched this on a black and white tv and loved it ever since. Great music. And that Camaro. Always wanted one like it. One Crazy Summer is just as fun. Glad to see you did a reaction to it, too.

Favorite childhood movies of this type: - Better Off Dead - One Crazy Summer - Summer School

How to ski 101 "Go that way, really fast, and if something gets in your way, turn."

Jay, I am 56 yo and definitely grew up in the 1980's. You are a very smart and observant guy. You are by far my favorite movie reactor. This movie was directed by the cult legend, Savage Steve Holland. John Cusack is on record saying he is embarrassed by this movie. I love it! Now you need to react to the second John Cusack, Curtis Armstrong, Savage Steve Holland & young Demi Moore movie, " One Crazy Summer".

Yeah station wagons were very common in the 80s, my family had one and at least one of my friends did. They pretty much started dying when the first minivan came out in 1984.

For John Cusack I recommend "The Sure Thing" and "Grosse Point Blank".. love to see some very very under the radar reactions on this channel.. two faves from the 90s "The Cowboy Way" (with Woody Harrison) and "Flashback" (with Dennis Hopper) both with Kiefer Sutherland..

I WANT MY TWO DOLLARS!!!!!!😂😂😂

You've gotta watch revenge of the nerds. It hasn't aged well at all but it's a must watch.

Station wagons were basically like the SUVs everyone drives today. When the SUVs became popular, the station wagons disappeared.

I used to watch this movie back when HBO stood for "Hey, Beatmaster's On." I just put 1+1 together realized that the reason the mom is giving out TV dinners for Christmas is because everyone is stocking up on TV dinners after seeing her food. She just figured they really liked them, rather than nobody wants to eat her cooking, and that's why they haven't starved to death.

John Cusack was also in "16 Candles". Hope you check that one out. I think it was his first film.

Lane's mom is none other than Kim Darby who played Mattie Ross in "True Grit (1969)" with John Wayne.

Curtis Armstrong also plays Joel’s (Tom Cruise) friend in “Risky Business”. A must watch.

When this came out, you could get a laugh anytime you saw a little kid on a bike, because everyone knew the joke when you'd yell at them, "TWO DOLLARS! I want my TWO DOLLARS!"

Hey you finally got around to watching Better Off Dead, how cool. I've seen this movie so many times and you still managed to notice two things on your first watching that I'd never noticed. 1. that the mailman is also the pizza delivery boy in Fast Times at Richmont High. 2. that the guy behind Amanda Wyss at the school dance is wearing a Freddy Krueger shirt. This movie has an "inofficial" sequel, that being One Crazy Summer. Unfortunately it isn't as structured (some serious arguments took place between director "Savage" Steve Holland and John Cusack while filming, with Cusack accusing him of destroying his acting career due to the sheer amount of silliness) as Better Off Dead and some montages carry on too long BUT to me personally, it has two of the funniest scenes in all of movie history.

The mom in this was a famous child actress. She was the female lead in True Grit with John Wayne when she was a young teen.

Another great John Cusack film is the Sure Thing. That was the first thing I ever saw him in

Another cool John Cusack movie (w/ Dan Aykroyd) is "Grosse Pointe Blank."

Omg!!! One of my favorite movies from then. Just hysterically funny.

How fun was this!! I love this movie, it's hilarious. If you haven't seen Heathers (1988) with Winona Ryder and Christian Slater I highly recommend it. It's funny, dark, and different. Happy New Year!! ✨ Two dollars!

80s movies always had station wagons -- they were the minivans of the era; any family with 3 or more kids had one, and then it almost always ended up being the first teen driver in the family's first car. I had one myself that I drove into the ground, and I am as uncool as you imagine.

My favorite movie of all time! Im 51, old as sh, movies will never be like that again sadly

Curtis Armstrong was also in risky business, the teacher guy was in fast times, ghost and many others. The girl singing at the dance was in Valley girl with Nicolas Cage

"he's no sexy lost boys sax man" Let's be honest, no one else ever in the existence of planet earth can be the sexy lost boys sax man!

Love being able to see clips of these fun movies again. The humor in this one was at times ridiculous but always fun! Another 80s sleeper favorite of mine growing up was The Last Dragon.

This was an incredible film to see as a young kid. I loved to draw and the animation captured my imagination. Savage Steve Holland included many stories from his own adolescence. He said his mother was always trying out new recipes she'd find in magazines, and they never quite worked out. That running gag about Lane's mother's food always kills me. Holland and Cusack's follow up "One Crazy Summer" is also hilarious, despite what John Cusack thinks of it. Bobcat Goldthwaite in his manic prime, running around in a Godzilla suit sold that movie for me. Thanks for reacting to this one, it deserves attention.

FANTASTIC selection, as per usual. You're gonna start to be known as 'that guy' with the cool reaction vids. 1985, what a year(!) to be a kid in high school... this 'keep you on yer toes' flick, Real Genius, Breakfast Club, Explorer's, Brazil, Legend, Back to the Future, Lifeforce, Pale Rider, Silverado, Fletch, LadyHawke...

Enjoyed your reaction to a classic for those who grew up in the 80s. Wonderful movie. I totally laugh all through the movie whenever I watch it. That chalk screech reminds me of the fact that since the advent of those white dry-erase boards, kids will never know the power of chalk screeching on the blackboard or finger nails being dragged down the metal/slate. Station wagons were very popular during the 1970s and early 80s, especially for families with more than just two children. Alas, the station wagon was replaced by the minivan. Although personally I would prefer a station wagon vs the minivan. Although if you look at many of the SUVs, they really are just modified station wagons with big wheels. The comment about Lane removing the pictures with Beth is key, because Monique will have to live with the Meyers after the fight with Ricky.

I had the biggest crush on Diane Franklin for many years. She was also in The Last American Virgin.

Dude, you have a good eye lol. I'm 6 minutes in and you've recognized some familiar faces. I have seen both this and Porky's way too often, and I never realized that's who that was.

Another interesting fact: the singer at the high school dance is none other than "Dotti", the bicycle repair woman and love interest from Pee Wee's Big Adventure and also an accomplished voice actress (-> Rug Rats)

Love this movie! So glad you enjoyed it. My husband and I found out, when we met, that we both loved this, and randomly we still quote this.

Certified hood classic. Insanely quotable.

I think you might like Just One of the Guys. Really sweet and funny and kind of ahead of its time.

This is an amazing movie. I love my 80's movies. Curtis Armstrong is amazing in this movie and I love the paper boys in it. I can't believe you have never watched Revenge Of The Nerds. It's my favorite movie. I even have the Revenge Of The Nerds title tattooed on my arm. Great work on this watch.

Never seen this before was a pretty good, deffinately an 80s movie .. great reaction .

Steven Williams (Creighton Drake) was also the captain on the original 21 Jump Street show, as well as appearing in The Blues Brothers and Cooley High!

King of the Nerds was one of the best reality game shows ever made , I miss it .

John Cusack started off in a minor role in 16 Candles, and grow into a big star. He's one of my favorite actors. His role in Martian Child with his sister Joan was amazing, but I really loved him in Edgar Allen Poe in The Raven.

I haven't seen many reactors do this one, but they should! One of my favorite comedies. I recommend "One Crazy Summer" which is by the same director and also starring John Cusack.

I grewup with this movie yes I'm 51. We use to joke around say I want my $2 and laugh our asses off. I love the 80's movies and music.

I loved better off dead when it came out in 85. Being a teen in the 80s was great

Classic John Cusack movie. Other John Cusack movies you might enjoy besides "Say Anything": "High Fidelity", "Gross Point Blank", "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil". Also the teacher in this movie is in "Ghost", the postal carrier is in "The Last Boy Scout", and Monique is in an incredible movie called "The Last American Virgin". Enjoy

You react to the best movies bro!!!!!! This movie is a f**king classic!!!!! One of the funniest ever!!!!

This movie is a classic. I was a teenager in the 80s and this was one of my favorites. I WANT MY $2 DOLLARS!! I had a such a crush on Diane Franklin.

I saw One Crazy Summer by the same director and also starring John Cusack in the theaters and then a friend showed me this and i fell over laughing at many parts particularly the horror two dollars trope.

Little Ricky was on this TV show Head of the class that starred Robin Givens who was married to Mike Tyson and dated Brad Pitt while married to Tyson.

I was a paper boy in the 80's and it wasn't far off lol People hiding in their houses when I came to collect and had to trap them when they got home from work.

Station wagons were the original soccer mom cars back in the day

Wow! Thank you for doing this one. I request it of other reactors all the time.

It was such a great movie! "Two Dollars" The guy that played Ricky was the creator of ICarly and did a lot of stuff with Nickelodeon!

That blonde girl was actually in the music video "girlfriend in Acoma" by the Smiths!!!!

My favorite movie of all time! lol I love it, thx edit: yep, a Black Camaro w/ red interior ...one of the reasons I love this movie! ...that 67 RS/SS is HOT (except for the one wheel peel and the powerglide 🤣)

You made my day with this. It’s one of my favorites, and there are so few reactions to it. “Love! The language of love!”

This is still one of my all time favorite movies! 😂😂😂

One of my all time favorite John Cusack movies is Gross Pointe Blank. You might enjoy it.

I just discovered your channel and had a chance to browse through your movie lineup before I watched your reaction to one of my top 10 childhood movies....I must say you have reacted to many of my childhood movies and with that you have a new subscriber, last but not least loved your reaction to this underrated gem. Can't wait for the next reaction

Gross Point Blank is another John Cuszak movie you'd like.... and also, High Fidelity!

This was a fun movie, I'm happy you enjoyed it too ^^ P.S. - You haven't seen Revenge of the Nerds...? Sounds like a movie night XD

This movie is awesome! A hidden gem of complete insanity, with a great cast!