The End (1978)

The movie starts very well, it continues very well, up to the half of it, then it all becomes monotonous and hard to follow. Absolutely blame on the script, because the actors are all excellent, Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Sally Field, Joanne Woodward, and, in smaller roles, Carl Reiner, Strother Martin, Robby Benson and Norman Fell. There are many fun scenes but, overall, the film is a failure, it's not easy at all to make a great comedy about death and suicide. Dom DeLuise is the most hilarious, the jokes about Polish people that his father told him are the funniest of the whole movie. One of the last roles for Myrna Loy and Pat O'Brien.

There's more to life than just ending it, just because you are terminally ill. For Wendell(Burt Reynolds) he just want to die fast and not be in so much pain. We all know that suicide is a act of selfishness when that person wants to rid himself off the Earth. That really brings more pain than ease to others. Every time when Wendell tries to get rid of himself, those plans are intervened by something else. He tries to OD(Overdose) on some pills, the milk he drinks has soured. He gets committed to an asylum the suicide attempts there are thwarted, after he meets another mental patient who happens to be more off than himself. Marlon(Dom DeLuise, 1933-2009) is so unhappy with himself, he bungled all tempts to help put Wendell out of his misery. Wendell on the other hand decided to see what he is doing to himself and just live life the way it is despite his condition of health. If I was terminal, I would enjoy myself everyday, until the end of time. A very funny movie with a touch of serious in the mix. Enjoy it! R.I.P., Dom Deluise! 3 out of 5 stars!

Up there with Groundhog Day for philoso-comedy. Carl Reiner makes every second count. Dom is desperately lovable. Sally shows she can act. And Burt is at his understated best. Unfortunately for Burt, he was 25 years too early with this now timely reflection on death and dying -- boomers did not want to be worried about death in 1978. Now that we are beginning to realize that we too are mortal, this movie should get the appreciation it deserves. Those of you who are turned off by movies dealing with ethical and personal dilemmas won't like this movie. You would think that with all the attention paid to the ethics of extending life and assisted suicide that this movie would be required viewing for the right AND left. I am convinced the Burt will be remembered because of this movie. Death be not proud.

Everyone remembers this one, esp the scene at the loony bin window where Dom Delouise is hellbent of finishing Burt off, Burt has second thoughts about plummetting to his death, and so on. That alone is great. Kirsty McNichols was also very good too. (I was too young when I saw it to appreciate the presence of Myrna Loy and Joanne Woodward, and so I do look forwards to seeing it again in fact)I also can remember seeing David Steinberg doing his whacked out shrink routine-'Get off of me!', etc. too. He is kinda forgotten now but a funny guy nonetheless.So yeah, I do recommend this to anyone who wants to see an underrated Reynolds flick, it really is pretty good.***