Favorite movie scenes 95 - The Grouchy Edition 6

Death Becomes Her (1992) is a perfect little movie. You can see Meryl's real gift lies in comedy. I love everybody here: Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, Bruce Willis... They've never been better, including Isabella Rossellini, who is terrific and iconic in her role as a villain.

Meryl (Madeleine) and Goldie (Helen) are two old friends and rivals. Madeleine is the big, trashy Broadway star (now in her declining years) who always steals the boyfriends of meek and humble Helen. When Helen starts dating plastic surgeon Bruce Willis she puts him to the Madeleine test, which he promptly fails, marrying her instead. At first Helen is so devastated that she becomes obsessed, morbidly obese, and must be committed to an institution. She only pulls herself by her bootstraps when she decides to take revenge.

The next time we meet the characters Madeleine and Bruce's marriage is at an all-time low, and they're barely speaking to each other. She can't stand getting older, and he's become a drunk, who's gone from being a respected surgeon to a make-up artist for the deceased. There are a million scenes that I love in this movie, but for grouchy purposes one I remember fondly is when Helen, now looking more gorgeous and thinner than ever, publishes a book and invites the unhappy couple to the party.

Seeing Helen so sexy and glamorous puts Madeleine in a state of shock, and she tries to make a quick escape, but too late: Helen has seen her. It's hysterical the way the two pretend to be overjoyed at the reunion, when they hate each other's guts so much.

Helen: Oh, gosh, I'm glad you came. I didn't know if you would. I spoke to my PR woman and she said (in a hushed voice) Madeleine Ashton goes to the opening of an envelope. (Helen pretends she's just trying to laugh it off instead of laughing at her, whereas Madeleine is obviously furious; then, feigning sadness, Helen says) Oh, those people can be so cruel!
Madeleine: Mmmm (still in doubt whether she means it).
Helen: I fired her.
Madeleine: (Pleasantly surprised, and now fully convinced Helen is on her side) Oh!
Helen: (Like it's no big deal) Well, I almost fired her.

Pwned!