A high-school dream come true! Well, one of many, but getting to meet the lady who played Monique from Better Off Dead last weekend was a huge thrill. I can put another checkmark on my Eighties Accomplishment List.
So Diane was in Austin as the guest of honor for the South Lamar Alamo Drafthouse’s Eighties double feature of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Better Off Dead. We only attended the latter since Somara and I have a personal connection to this movie. Personally, it’s an honorary John Hughes flick despite the very talented Savage Steve Holland being the author and director.
As per Alamo tradition, there were appropriate trailers before the main feature. Both were other movies Diane starred in: Terrorvision and the red-band version version for The Last American Virgin. Sadly the Better we watched was the DVD because the film’s current owners LOST the only 35mm print in circulation. This didn’t ruin my enjoyment, Diane was my primary incentive. It’s still funny too…two dollars!
After the movie, Diane took questions, promoted her book (I hope to score a copy on Amazon), asked people to be her friend on FaceBook (why not!) and thanked everyone for coming to see the movie on a Sunday evening. What did we learn:
- Her married name is De Laurentis, but it’s a faction that broke off from the famous movie producers. Film making is in her daughter’s blood though.
- She doesn’t know why John Cusack hates Better yet he agreed to let Diane use a couple pictures of him for the book.
- She remembers kissing John but not Keanu.
- Holland did request her to audition due to Virgin. Diane was originally called in for Beth. She convinced Holland to give her Monique instead due it being a better role. The lady is smart.
- Contrary to the movie’s longevity and beloved status, most critics hated Better when it was released. I always thought it was a modest hit.
- Diane can ski. Stunt doubles were used for liability reasons.
- She got to keep the Monique’s signature coat and hat when principal filming was completed. Diane lets you wear it in the photo if you wish. I passed. I like her the way she is and I feared my girth could damage the treasured props.
When I did get my personal face time, I asked Diane about how the accent for Monique. Did she already know French, go study French or Holland said, imitate French people. Diane’s answer: she had recently completed a movie as a French person, loves doing accents and studied French in school. Hence what’s on the autograph below. Another version of my question was asked, I just got mine in before the movie started!
What an evening! Normally I avoid attending anything fun on a “school night” should it start past 9 or 10 PM. Yet I would fight through al-Qeda to meet one of the babes (Diane’s choice word, not mine) of my formative years. The next time Alamo wants to show this movie, I’ll see if they’re interested in borrowing my copy of the soundtrack which features songs from EG Daily, Terri Nunn and Rupert Hine. Can’t get it on iTunes!
Click on it to see this in greater detail