some good points but way too long

Rating: 6/10 (29 January 1999)

Overall I agreed with many of the reviews I have read - this film was way too long. Maybe the directors were trying to get across some deep and meaningful thoughts which required length, but the plot and stereotypical characters ruined any effect for me.
William Parrish is a successful, popular, clever guy who everyone likes and so in Hollywood style, has to be about to see his life's work destroyed by some young hot-shot. Of course, he's not quite perfect, preferring his younger, intelligent and fairly pretty daughter over her sister. For me, the best character was the Jamaican woman although she only appears briefly.
Death taking over a human body was interesting to watch and Brad Pitt did do well in this role, giving Death the appearance of knowing language but learning to control a human body. Maybe the thought of Death being human with human emotions just unnerves me a little, but a Death which learns to be a
good guy whilst on earth and fall in love just doesn't seem real to me. And if Death exists outside of time, why worry about taking Susan Parrish with him - she'll be dead herself in the blink of an eyelid?
Verdict: save your 5 quid (and back from those cinema seats) and rent this on video when there's nothing on tele. Or even save that and wait for it to be shown on TV. This also has the advantage of the bathroom being close by!