Review of Defending Your Life (1991) by Judy R — 12 Apr 2011

Of all the comedic concepts to cash-in on having to do with the afterlife, this is probably the best.

Writer/director/star Brooks likely started with a simple conceit; what if, after you die, you have to account for all the decisions you've made in your life in front of a jury? The dramatic and comedic possibilities are admittedly pretty enticing, and Brooks does a fine job with the details and hierarchy of the afterlife, appropriately playing a middling schmuck has got more to worry about than most.

The romantic subplot, though it might feel necessary in a comedy, feels a little forced; I found it kind of strange that romantic entanglements would be a part of this stage of the afterlife, and, if you accept that, the characters apparently feel nothing for their spouses they've left behind. Streep being underwritten doesn't help here either.

Despite any complaints you may have, existential humor doesn't get much better than this.