by Bayard Lewis
4 out out of 4 stars
Back in 1991, Albert Brooks and Meryl Streep played on the big screen in a quirky comedy a lot of people missed. It only did $16 million in the box office, but that’s really no way to measure “Defending Your Life”.
Don’t be fooled by its simplistic DVD cover, there’s a lot of wisdom in this forgotten comedy. Brooks plays Daniel Miller, an advertising executive who is only briefly shown on earth before getting into a car accident. He is suddenly thrust into an afterlife that is not heaven or hell. We learn in this strange place that he is among thousands of souls awaiting their fate in Judgement City. He dons strange white garments and joins the many elderly souls who have also recently passed. This simple clothing may have been both a comedic choice to parody the stereotype of white robes in heaven, but it could have also been an aesthetic choice to avoid distracting and datable costumes.
In this film the ‘gates of heaven’ are a well-written series of days where Daniel must defend his life, showing that overcoming fear was his biggest ‘test’ in this latest lifetime. His advocate in the trial room and the counterbalancing prosecutor try to each paint different versions of his life for the judges making the decision whether or not he ‘moves forward’ or must return to Earth to try again. Actor Rip Torn has plenty of quotable dialog as Daniel’s advocate, and his character seems to be a blending of archetypal uncle and father figures. He cares about Daniel’s fate, but does not mince words since their time together is limited. Daniel meets Julia (Streep) in a comedy club, where they are the only two people both under the age of 70. Their instant connection drives the rest of the film as we discover that their newfound love in Judgement City may not be so new after all, hinting at the concept of past lives. The cast seems to be having a great time, especially Streep, whose on-screen chemistry with Brooks makes you feel the romance is authentic, something that comes naturally when two people fall in love. Her character has undeniable charm, a blending of joyful exuberance and carefree nature that will make you laugh and smile. One of the great philosophical motifs in the movie is the concept that the actions in your life determine what happens after you die. It’s important because it supports the film’s idea that we are masters of our own fate and ultimate destiny. It also discards the existence of Hell, quipping that ‘there is no hell, although…Los Angeles is getting pretty close’.
While generosity is temporarily rewarded in the afterlife, the overcoming of fear is both Daniel and Julia’s ultimate determinant of their opportunity to move beyond Earth. Brooks also wrote and directed the film, not an easy feat. Brooks has infused this work with more wisdom about life than I’ve seen in a comedy in a long time. The over-40 crowd will most appreciate the movie, but for those able to connect with Brooks’ brand of dry humor, “Defending Your Life” serves up plenty of laughs and thought-provoking scenarios. •
