Review of Weekend at Bernie's II (1993) by John M — 05 Aug 2007

Did anyone say 'Golden Palm from Cannes'?

Is it possible to improve on perfection, in this case that meisterwerk of Americana, 'Weekend at Bernie's'? 'Weekend at Bernie's 2' (W@B2) has proved itself to be one of the enduring works of American film. It takes the timeless themes of courage in the face of defeat and personal triumph won from loss and transforms them into a magnificent twentieth-century classic.

Several people told me that this film is boring, simple, or too short to have won the praise it got. Well, the only thing they did wrong was that they misapproached this dazzling work. To fully enjoy this staggering film, you need to have a good knowledge of English. Also, you need to have the ability to visualize what underlying message each scene is trying to form.

W@B2 lets us see our own lives more clearly, by experiencing the challenge to and empathizing with the protagonists in this classic tale of man versus nature and man versus himself that explores the true nature of human nobility. What does life mean? What are we striving for? From what do we gain our dignity? Anyone who thinks that he who dies with the most toys wins can learn a great deal from this story. Even if the story was not so compelling and universal in its appeal and themes, the film is worth the trip just for the acting. Seldom has so much complexity been portrayed with such simplicity. Miscommunication is what people have the most trouble with in cooperating with each other. Tell a story like this one that makes the point you want to share. Then tell the story again and again. Thirty times or more, and everyone will begin to get it. When your viewers start telling the story thirty times to others, you have made an important first step. Watch this film, learn from it each time, and enjoy ... enjoy ... enjoy!