Right to Die Film Festival: The End
For his second stint behind the camera Burt Reynolds chose as his subject a black comedy about suicide — assisted suicide, to be exact — which seems the only possible reason for its revival by the Hemlock Society of San Diego. Reynolds stars as a real estate promoter who decides to kill himself when a fatal blood disease puts a crimp in his lifestyle. No sooner does the “D” that ends the title credits roll over onto its belly does the viewer realize this is going to be seppuku at its silliest, with a side of maudlin. Reynolds’ unsuccessful kamikaze mission is aided (if not abetted) by a supporting cast of Hollywood luminaries (Myrna Loy, Pat O’Brien, Carl Reiner, Joanne Woodward), none of whom are put to much use. All hope is lost the moment Dom DeLuise arrives and makes known his overpowering presence as Reynolds’ lunatic assistant, eager to help him die. My one enduring memory is the negative publicity the film received from the Polish community, due to a string of ethnic jokes delivered by DeLuise. Per custom, Faye Girsh will be on hand to make sense of it all. — Scott Marks