Wendell Lawson has only six months to live. Not wanting to endure his last few months of life waiting for the end, he decides to take matters into his own hands and enlists the help of a delusional mental patient to help him commit suicide.
Acting
Dom DeLuise steals every scene as unhinged 'helper' Marlon.
Direction
Reynolds' debut shows surprising restraint with dark material.
Writing
Jerry Belson's script walks the suicide-comedy tightrope.
Director
Burt Reynolds
Burt Reynolds
Wendell Sonny Lawson
Dom DeLuise
Marlon Borunki
Sally Field
Mary Ellen
Strother Martin
Dr. Waldo Kling
David Steinberg
Marty Lieberman
Joanne Woodward
Jessica Lawson
Norman Fell
Dr. Samuel Krugman
Myrna Loy
Maureen Lawson
Kristy McNichol
Julie Lawson
Pat O'Brien
Ben Lawson
Robby Benson
Father Dave Benson
Carl Reiner
Dr. James Maneet
Bill Ewing
Hearse Driver
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Reynolds and DeLuise were real-life best friends; their genuine chemistry saves the darkest moments from feeling exploitative.
The film bombed in 1978 because audiences weren't ready to laugh at suicide — decades later, it reads as ahead of its time.
US
