Better Off Dead (1985)

Rating: ****
Director: Savage Steve Holland
Cast: John Cusack, David Ogden Stiers, Kim Darby, Curtis Armstrong

An amazingly well made and hilarious film showcasing what John Cusack does best - being a quirky and awkward teenager. Cusack's girlfriend has just broken up with him to date the blonde haired stud who's captain of the school's ski team. He can't deal with the anguish, so he tries to kill himself in several hilarious bumbled attempts. In order to win back his sweetheart, he has to beat the ski team captain in a race down the deadly and treacherous K-12 mountain. He finally finds strength, friendship, courage, and love in the French foreign exchange student across the street and everything turns out happily. Great fun with a lot of quirky teen angst, offbeat characters, and a lot of heart.