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Albert Brooks, Meryl Streep, Rip Torn, Lee Grant, Buck Henry ... see more see more... , Shirley MacLaine , Wil Albert , Newell Alexander , Sage Allen , Gary Ballard , Shana Ballard , Rachel Bard , Jennifer Barlow , Gary Beach , Roger Behr , Carol Bivins , Beth Black , Arell Blanton , Bob Braun , Ernie Brown , S. Scott Bullock , Sidney Chankin , Cathleen Chin , Glen Chin , Julie Cobb , Ron Colby , Clarke Coleman , Joseph Darrell , Raffi Di Blasio , Mark Dunlap , Michael Durrell , James Eckhouse , Eric Ehasz , Cliff Einstein , James Ekim , Greg Finley , Art Frankel , Dennis Germain , Mary Pat Gleason , Maxine Hicks , Kristopher Kent Hill , Tommy Inouye , Nurit Koppel , Hal Landon Jr. , Ida Lee , Lillian Lehman , James MacKrell , Chris Macris , James Manis , Joey Miyashima , Mary Mukogawa , Clayton Norcross , James Paradise , Samee Park , Jerry Prell , David Purdham , Marilyn Rockafellow , Vernon Roguen , Matthew Scharch , Peter Schuck , Lisa Sears , Alex Sheafe , Kagko Shikami , Toshio Shikami , Sharlie Stuart , Ken Thorley , Noley Thornton , Leonard O. Turner , George D. Wallace , Susan Walters , Tim Winters , Barbara Claman , Mark Saks , Ethan Randall , Time Winters , Shirley Mac Laine

Albert Brooks wrote, directed, and stars in this philosophical comedy about a man having a hard time making a case for himself in the afterlife. When advertising executive Daniel Miller (Albert Brooks... read more read more...) finds himself in a fatal car crash minutes after taking delivery on a new BMW, he's whisked away to Judgment City, where the recently dead are put on a sort of trial to decide their fate. If in your time on Earth you were able to face your fears and learn from your mistakes, you get to move on to a life in a better world. However, if you didn't, you have to go back to Earth and try again. As he spends the next several days watching various episodes from his life, Daniel gets the impression he doesn't stand much of a chance of moving on -- and his representative, Bob Diamond (Rip Torn), seems to have little confidence in his case. In the meantime, he frequents Judgment City's many restaurants (where the food is delicious and you can eat all you want without gaining an ounce), pays a visit to the Past Life Pavilion, and meets Julia (Meryl Streep), who seems so kind, sweet, and noble that her advancement is practically assured. Daniel and Julia fall in love, but what's going to happen if they don't end up in the same place? Albert Brooks and Meryl Streep make a witty and engaging romantic team in Defending Your Life, and Shirley MacLaine appears in a highly appropriate cameo. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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76% liked it

8,731 ratings

Critics

96% liked it

28 critics

PG, 1 hr. 51 min.

Directed by: Albert Brooks

Release Date: March 22, 1991

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DVD Release Date: April 3, 2001

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Flixster Reviews (607)

  • fb619846742
    October 15, 2010
    fb619846742
    An imaginative, hilarious look at an ad-man (Albert Brooks) killed in a car accident and sent to a purgatory-type afterlife, where he awaits judgment concerning if he lived a good life or not in order to see if he will be granted access into Heaven. If he isn't, he'll be sent bac... read morek to Earth to live another life again. Albert Brooks really nails this from every angle - writing, directing, and acting, this is a genius film. It doesn't quite keep up the same momentum is has during its last half hour or so, but this is a mostly great comedy which features a great premise, and one that is executed soundly in almost every conceivable aspect. The ending is a strange one but fitting in a weird way. It's also very re-watchable thanks to its ability to get huge laughs, while at the same time possessing the skill to know when to become serious when time calls for it.
  • DrZeek
    August 27, 2008
    DrZeek
    Daniel Miller: Why do you drive this?
    Jeep Owner: What?
    Daniel Miller: I'm curious. I see people driving these things. What do you know that I don't? Are floods coming? Hoover Dam broke? What's going on?
    Jeep Owner: I like this car.
    Daniel Miller: It's not a car, it's a battering... read more ram. This is what Patton drove: "Hey you, soldier! Follow us!"
    Jeep Owner: Make fun, but in an 8.5 earthquake, you'll beg for a Jeep.
    Daniel Miller: In an 8.5 earthquake, I'll beg for a coffin.

    A very funny and original movie, with Albert Brooks at his best. The story itself is a neat concept, what happens when you die? No overdoing it, just a nice idea where people are sent to a place where things get determined for you in an orderly fashion. The idea is to repeat life until you sort of learn a deeper meaning and can move on.

    Brooks plays Daniel, a man who is killed at the beginning of the movie only to arrive in this afterlife setting. He is informed by his lawyer-type person, played by Rip Torn, that he will be judged based on clips from nine days of his life, and it will be determined whether he will be incarnated back on earth or move on.

    While not on trial, Daniel gets to move around this afterlife town known as Judgment City. During this time he meets a woman Julie, played by Meryl Streep. Many jokes in the movie come from how much better Streep's life was and how much better she is treated in Judgment City because of it.

    Daniel Miller: What is this?
    Julia: It's my hotel.
    Daniel Miller: This is your hotel?
    Julia: Yeah. Where are you staying?
    Daniel Miller: Obviously at the place for people that weren't very generous and didn't adopt anybody. I'm at the Continental. Come over one day; we'll paint it.

    The movie is very funny overall due to Brooks style of humor. The way he writes his comedy works so well and is helped even more so when Brooks gets himself into various stages of his conversations, observations, or arguments. Also very funny are the actual judgment scenes going between scenes from Daniel's life and the discussion afterward.

    Along with watching this movie for its story and humor, there are also various elements that hint at some deeper themes involving the thoughts on death and the assessment of life. The inclusion of a love interest and how that factors into the story is also effective.

    I've watched this movie many times and love it. Its a good premise, featuring solid work from Brooks as well as the supporting cast. The ideas introduced here are good setups for the movie's concept without going to deep. Its very entertaining and well done.

    Bob Diamond: Did we ever stop to think that this young boy had a bond with his father? I don't think it had anything to do with the friend. I just think Daniel couldn't lie to his dad. That's all.
    Lena Foster: You're nodding, Mr. Miller. Does that mean you agree with Mr. Diamond?
    Daniel Miller: Oh, yes. I had a bond with my father. I pretty much never lied to him.
    Lena Foster: You never lied to your father? Would you like me to show you at least 500 examples?
    Daniel Miller: I said "pretty much" never lied. I didn't say I never, ever lied. You have to lie sometimes... in an emergency. But, ah, it doesn't mean the bond is affected. If you've got the bond the bond is always there, and if you have to lie occasionally you're not going to interfere with the bond. You know, the bond can wait for a little lie and... in the end it's there for you... You know, sometimes in the middle of a lie I found that the bond would kick in... maybe squeeze a little truth out.
    Bob Diamond: Psst, wrap it up.
    Daniel Miller: I'm through.
  • jjnxn
    June 30, 2008
    jjnxn
    Funny if erratic comedy, Lee Grant and Rip Torn make great adversaries.
  • superclerk25
    January 8, 2008
    superclerk25
    I think this is a pretty funny flick and the cast works great in it.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    August 4, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    It's not how I expected the afterlife to be whatsoever. Albert Brooks makes himself the center of this lighthearted romantic comedy drama. It feels cheap.
  • Godless
    June 26, 2007
    Godless
    A great film from Albert Brooks.
  • burgerstar
    January 17, 2011
    burgerstar
    One of my all-time favorites!
  • lesleyanorton
    April 11, 2010
    lesleyanorton
    Romantic comedy set in the afterlife where Albert Brooks gets taken to west-coast Judgement City to have his time on earth evaluated to determinine whether he goes on, or goes back. With Meryl Streep as the cheerful love interest who has done enough good things on earth to be a n... read moreo-brainer for the next step. Sweet and sweetly funny.
  • robfearon
    September 25, 2009
    robfearon
    I never like romantic comedies, but this one wasn't too bad.
  • alanjayh
    July 1, 2008
    alanjayh
    Kudos for originality...Brooks and Streep have good chemistry..this is funny and thought provoking...

View All Defending Your Life Reviews

Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The movie is funny in a warm, fuzzy way, and it has a splendidly satisfactory ending. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

This is definitely Brooks's day in court, and he makes comic heaven of it. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
June 12, 2006
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Though visually impressive, the film shows problems with tonality, which veers from outright comedy to earnest therapy session--the "seize the day" lesson is not strong enough for a full-length picture. Full Review

Bill Clark
August 18, 2005
Bill Clark, FromTheBalcony

An underrated gem that explores the long-term consequences of our everyday actions.

Widgett Walls
May 18, 2003
Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com

A sweet, mildly profound romantic comedy.

Kevin N. Laforest
September 10, 2002
Kevin N. Laforest, Montreal Film Journal

It just gives us a satisfying idea of what life's really about, while remaining a smart comedy with an edge. Full Review

Ken Hanke
August 21, 2002
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Interminable, typical Albert Brooks

Scott Weinberg
August 12, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

One of Brooks' warmest and wittiest projects. Nice to see such a soft side of Streep.

Stephen Farber
January 9, 2002
Stephen Farber, Movieline

This is a comedy that has something on its mind. Full Review

John J. Puccio
July 19, 2001
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

...mild, amiable, laid-back ribbing....witty and insightful.

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    • Talk Show Guest: This is what smart people eat?
    • Daniel Miller: And you didn't want to toot your own horn.
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Defending Your Life Trivia

  • In what movie does Shirley MacLaine tell Meryl Streep she is limited to see only 5 past lives?  Answer »
  • In Defending Your Life, who stars opposite Albert Brooks?  Answer »
  • In Defending Your Life, what new age actress welcomes you to the "Past Lives Pavillion"?  Answer »
  • Albert Brooks character falls in love with the character played by this actress in "Defending Your life"? Mamma Mia!  Answer »
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