Defending Your Life - A Movie Review

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"Defending Your Life" is a romantic-comedy fantasy that was released in 1991. It was written and directed by Albert Brooks. The movie received mostly positive reviews but was not a success at the box office, earning $16.4 million in the United States. It received 3 Saturn Award nominations for Best Actress (Meryl Streep), Best Fantasy Film and Best Writing (Albert Brooks). There is a cameo appearance by Shirley MacLaine. CAST Albert Brooks - Daniel Miller Meryl Streep - Julia Rip Torn - Bob Diamond Lee Grant - Lena Foster Buck Henry - Dick Stanley George D. Wallace - Daniel's Judge Lillian Lehman - Daniel's Judge Daniel Miller, a 39-year-old Los Angeles advertising executive takes delivery of a new BMW. He leans over to adjust some papers that slid off the stack and rams into a bus and is killed. He is sent to Judgment City, a Purgatory-like waiting area for the recently deceased in the Western half of the United States. His life on Earth will be judged. While Daniel is in Judgment City he is offered all-you-can-eat-restaurants (where you get scrumptious food and don't gain an ounce), comedy clubs, bowling alleys and more. Bob Diamond, his defense attorney, explains to Daniel that people from Earth only use 3-5% of their brains and spend most of their lives living on the basis of their fears. If the court determines that he has conquered his fears, he will be sent on to the next phase of existence...where he will be able to use more of his brain and be able to experience more of what the universe has to offer. Otherwise his soul will be recycled on Earth to live another life and to attempt to conquer his fears. There are two judges. Each attorney utilizes a video-like footage from certain days in the defendant's life which is shown to the judges to illustrate his/her case. One night at a comedy club Daniel meets Julia. Julia has lived a life of courage and generosity. They begin to hang out together and fall in love. If you want to see what will happen next, you must watch the movie. This is such a well-written, well-acted movie; and it's something a little bit different than what I'm used to seeing. Whenever I see Albert Brooks' name, I'm pretty sure I will like the movie. Brooks wrote, directed and starred in this film. I think you'll enjoy it. This movie is rated PG. Photo Credit: Pixabay