The reviews are divided on Death Becomes Her, but praise repeatedly centres on Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn, whose acerbic performances give the dark comedy much of its appeal. Admirers enjoy the celebrity satire and the stars’ willingness to mock themselves, with Bruce Willis’s comic ability also drawing notice. The special effects attract praise across otherwise differing assessments, while the more enthusiastic reviews find sharp dialogue and a cynical streak beneath the spectacle.
The split concerns how often that spectacle produces a laugh. Variety admires the effects and performances but finds the satire too cold to inspire much enthusiasm. The Los Angeles Times argues that the effects derail a promising setup and cannot compensate for weak comic writing. Other reservations concern gruesomeness and an old-fashioned approach. The spread is wide: supporters find the excess entertaining, while detractors see an overblown comedy that struggles to be funny.