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I Love You to Death

I Love You to Death (1990)

April. 06,1990
|
6.4
|
R
| Comedy Crime

Joey Boca is the owner of a pizza parlour, and has been married to Rosalie for years. When Rosalie discovers that Joey is a womanizer and has been cheating on her for a long time, she goes to extreme lengths to punish him.

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TinsHeadline
1990/04/06

Touches You

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Actuakers
1990/04/07

One of my all time favorites.

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UnowPriceless
1990/04/08

hyped garbage

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BelSports
1990/04/09

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

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DeuceWild_77
1990/04/10

Let me start to say that this little 'under the radar' black comedy flick, it's one of my all time favorites from the genre and a severly underrated film that deserved a much better praise and needs to be rediscovered as a comedy gold cult film nowadays.Lawrence Kasdan, who never disappointed (at least during the 80's, until the mid 90's) directed this quirky story based on actual facts about an italian womanizer, Joey Boca (Kline), the chauvinist owner of a Pizza Parlor, who repeatedly cheats on his devoted wife, Rosalie (Ullman), even if her loyal employer, Devo (Phoenix) and his eccentric mother, Nadja (Plowright) were trying to warn her against Joey's way of life. When Rosalie catches him cheating on her in a public library, she bows to revenge for years of infidelity and with the support of Mother Nadja, Devo and two doped (un)professional killers (Reeves & Hurt) they plan to eliminate him, but a sinful task like this, will not be easy to concretize...Kasdan was always a great director of actors, since his debut in "Body Heat" ('81) to "The Big Chill" ('83), "Silverado" ('85) or "The Accidental Tourist" ('88), his entire cast always gave superb performances way adequated to the given material and "I Love You to Death" is not an exception. Kevin Kline, one of the funniest actors that ever graced the screen, fresh from his truly deserved Oscar win for "A Fish Called Wanda" the year before and collaborating with the director for the 3rd time, is splendid and hilarious playing Joey Boca, a derivative performance of his Otto character from "Wanda", but equally effective and stealing every scene he's in.Tracey Ullman is impressive in her first co-leading role in a theatrical released picture, but veteran Dame Joan Plowright as her cranky Serbo-Croatian Mother Nadja, delivers a marvellous performance, her responses and facial expressions' are a riot to follow.River Phoenix is ok playing Devo, practically playing himself at that time. William Hurt (joining Kasdan for the 4th time) & Keanu Reeves as the two hippie druggies, play one of the most memorable screen duo in a comedy movie ever (Cheech & Chong next to them look like a pair of lucid fellas), it needs to be seen to be believed, even the always subpar, Keanu, delivers here probably one of his best performances, some may say that he's just playing a part of himself, but so as River, the main difference is that the River's role and performance are bland & merely passable and Keanu is extremely amusing.The movie also features an early appearance on-screen by Heather Graham and a cameo by Phoebe Cates (from the "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" & "Gremlins" fame), the real life wife of lead star, Kevin Kline, who shot the scene with her husband in a break of filming "Drop Dead Fred" ('91).The music score by James Horner is spot-on to the events on the screen and largely contribute to the burlesque feeling of the whole.In short, "I Love You to Death" is a skillfully directed farce from a delightfully immoral screenplay from John Kostmayer and a 'must-see' for fans of such movies as "A Fish Called Wanda" ('88); "Weekend at Bernie's" ('89); "Oscar" ('91) or "My Cousin Vinny" ('92). If you not find this movie funny, you surely needs to check your head.My rate is a 9.5, near the perfection of a 10 star movie !!

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bruno-32
1990/04/11

Based on a true story, but obviously Hollywood had to take liberties to stretch it out. First, reading other reviews here that Plowright stole the movie, is a bit overboard...it was difficult most of times to make out what she was saying...awful Italian accent, if that was, what it was. Kline went back to his "Wanda" character, only this time with an Italian accent, which wasn't bad...at least I understood what he was saying. Surprising that William Hurt was in such a small role at that time. He was a leading man, and a bigger star than Kline, an Oscar winner at that for a "Kiss FRom Spider woman"..so maybe he did a cameo for the fun of it.

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ccthemovieman-1
1990/04/12

A surprise hit....at least with me. I found this dark comedy hilarious in spots and so-so in others, but overall a funny movie. With comedy that's what happens anyway: some jokes connect; others don't. Most are pretty good in here but beware: some of the jokes are in poor taste, but that's a dark comedy for you. Also, some Catholics might be offended because the film takes some shots at them, or at least people who go overboard in rationalizing their sins, as Kevin Kline does in here.There is an odd assortment of actors in here and they all contribute to the fun: Kline, Tracey Ullman, William Hurt, River Phoenix, Keannu Reeves, Joan Plowright and James Gammon.Supposedly, this film was based on a real-life happening, which makes it all the more interesting and lending credence to the saying that "truth is stranger than fiction."Plowright almost steals the show from Kline and Ullman, the husband-and-wife team who have problems because of Kline's persistent cheating on her. Plowright in Ullman's mother and has some of the best lines in the film as mother and daughter plot how to kill the immoral Kline.Phoenis plays a young New Age devotee and Hurt and Reeves are funny as two totally stoned-out hit men. Hurt is particularly good.This movie is so-so to start until Ullman finds her husband cheating. Then, after a heart-wrenching minute or so, she and her mother plot to kill the unfaithful spouse. The comedy then goes full out as they hire these really goofy hit men and things don't go smoothly. The ending is quite different and quite touching with a very good message....which is all I will say in case you haven't seen this.

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beanheadsforever
1990/04/13

Yes, although Heather Graham is indeed in very little of this movie, it still makes my list (and I hate almost everything) for one of the very best comedy movies ever made. I was introduced to this movie by my best friend and barber, and every time it comes on Showtime I am compelled to watch - it never gets old. Chock full of shock humor and one-liners, it has never failed to bring down the house, no matter who I show it to.I Love You to Death includes many of the best elements of the blackest comedies you will ever see, but without leaving you with a bitter aftertaste. That being said, be warned that if you are truly a fan of black comedy, you may find the ending a bit disappointing. One of Kevin Kline's best, and a showcase for the talents of the one and only Tracy Ullman. Also starring River Phoenix, Joan Plowman, and Keanu Reeves in a typical role for this stage of his career. A longtime favorite of mine and everyone I know (or if it's not, it will be).

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