A Washing Machine! Classic!
Here is a film that starts off as merely misjudged, then grows progressively worse as it goes along. What begins as a film about the perils of hiking, or the benefit of hiking with a buddy, becomes infinitely worse.
Young Beth Slocum (Aubrey Plaza) dies too young, the victim of a snakebite while hiking. Her parents are obviously distraught at the loss of their beautiful and spirited daughter, and her Richie Rich looking charisma free on again, off again boyfriend Zach is similarly aggrieved – what with his sexual prospects instantly and dramatically diminished.
Beth is mourned at the funeral and wake, and Zach and Beth’s dad initially bond over their loss. The fact is though that sometimes a loss is never recovered, but things thought lost or misplaced can turn up again just as you were getting over them.
Beth is such a ‘thing’. Her reappearance gives no indication of her recently deceased state – aside from a large pile of dirt around the burial plot – and she most notably has no idea that she even took a ‘time-out’ from living. Her parents only want her back, so they quickly convince themselves that looking a gift horse in the mouth is unnecessary, and once Zach learns that she is not only breathing but still horny, he finds a willingness to overlook things as well.
Initially…
Aubrey Plaza might have the busiest eyeballs in Hollywood, but they would be better served merely rolling incessantly at her dialogue here. John C. Reilly might be the funniest guy in the film, but for some reason he gets to play the straight man as all around him devolves to shit. As for Molly Shannon, I have never found her even vaguely amusing for one instant of her painfully lengthy career.
And Zach. Oh Zach. You may have been famous and known before this film. You might even be famous after this one. I think it more likely that you will quickly vanish without a trace.
Life After Beth is a vaguely clever title with a play on the lead character’s name. This is similar to Shaun of the Dead. Both films involve the undead, both films purport to be rom-zom-coms. That is where the similarity ends.
Shaun of the Dead is clever, witty and painstakingly crafted, Life After Beth is a one-note film with a cast of actors who have forged a reputation in comedy, only none of them justify that rep here.
I am tired of defending Shaun of the Dead from comparisons to dreck like this, and the reality is that it needs no defense here. I cannot fathom why anyone, even die hard fans of the cast or horror comedy, might choose to LOL over anything here. Here is a film that seeks to make light of the concept of death, but the evidence on display here is that death remains unbelievably sad.
Final Rating – 5 / 10. If being a zombie is this much fun, I look forward to a quick death.
