I Love You to Death Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A pizza guy gets shot a bunch of times because he’s too charming, but somehow lives, proving that carbs and infidelity can’t kill you.

🍿 I Love You to Death: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Discovering Joey’s Infidelity

Rosalie Boca, a devout Catholic, is shocked to discover her husband Joey, owner of a pizza parlor, has been serially unfaithful. Her world crumbles as she realizes Joey’s charming exterior hides a pattern of infidelity. Unable to reconcile her faith with the idea of divorce, Rosalie grapples with feelings of betrayal and anger.

Planning the ‘Accident’

Driven to the brink, Rosalie confides in her mother, Nadja, and Devo, a pizza parlor employee secretly in love with Rosalie. Together, they concoct a series of increasingly absurd and unsuccessful plots to kill Joey. Their attempts range from poisoning his spaghetti to rigging his car with a bomb, showcasing their complete ineptitude as would-be murderers.

Hiring Hitmen

Desperate, Devo hires two drug-addled cousins, Harlan and Marlon, as hitmen. These characters add a layer of chaotic humor to the already farcical situation. The hitmen’s incompetence is hilariously amplified as they struggle to locate Joey’s heart and argue over the proper music to play during the assassination attempt.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Joey Boca (Kevin Kline): Joey is a womanizing pizza parlor owner in Tacoma, Washington, whose infidelity triggers his wife’s increasingly inept murder attempts.
• Rosalie Boca (Tracey Ullman): Rosalie is Joey’s loving but vengeful wife who, after discovering his infidelities, resorts to desperate and comical measures to kill him.
• Nadja (Joan Plowright): Nadja is Rosalie’s mother who encourages and actively participates in the attempts to murder Joey.
• Devo Nod (River Phoenix): Devo is a pizzeria employee with unrequited feelings for Rosalie, who reluctantly aids in the murder plot.
• Harlan James (William Hurt): Harlan is one half of the drug-addled, incompetent cousin duo hired to kill Joey.
• Marlon James (Keanu Reeves): Marlon is the other half of the inept hitman duo, consistently failing in their mission to assassinate Joey.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Nadja: “People in America kill all the time. It’s like a national pastime.” – Nadja justifies the idea of murder as a normal occurrence in America.
• Rosalie: “I’m not going to divorce him, because he’ll move in with other women. I’d rather kill him.” – Rosalie explains her reasoning for choosing murder over divorce.
• Harlan: “Where’s his heart? I’m going to shoot him in the heart.” – Harlan asks Marlon where Joey’s heart is located so he can shoot him in the heart.
• Joey’s Mother: “*Slaps Joey* Bad boy! Bad boy!” – Joey’s mother visits him in the hospital and is alternately hugging and slapping him.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $18,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $16,186,793
• Worldwide Gross: $16,186,793

💥 I Love You to Death Reviews

Personal Review

I adore this movie! It’s like a crazy fever dream that somehow happened in real life. Kline is hilarious, and Tracey Ullman is fantastic. But the real gems are Hurt and Reeves as the stoned hitmen – every scene they’re in is pure gold. Plus, it’s based on a true story, which makes it even more insane!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of dark comedy”
  • “Viewers who appreciate films with ensemble casts”
  • “People interested in true crime stories with a comedic twist”
  • “Those who enjoy films set in the 1990s”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence”
  • “Drug use”
  • “Infidelity”
  • “Mature themes”

Professional Reviews

• Rollingstone.com: “A black comedy masterpiece with over-the-top performances and a plot so ridiculous it has to be true. Kline is at his finest, Ullman is wonderful, and the stoner hitmen steal the show, a testament to Kasdan’s eye for casting.
• Variety Film + TV: “Kasdan’s direction is skilled. Kevin Kline is extra-ordinary, as always. Tracey Ullman is wonderful. Joan Plowright is just right. The Late/Great River Phoenix is impressive, while William Hurt & Keanu Reeves deliver some of the best laughs.

Audience Reactions

Keanu Reeves and William Hurt’s performance as stoned hitmen is pure comedic genius.: The dark humor and absurdity of the plot, combined with the actors’ chemistry, create an unforgettable experience.

Joan Plowright steals every scene with her dry wit and perfect comedic timing.: The ensemble cast is brilliant, each actor bringing a unique element to the story and making it truly memorable.

Overall Consensus: A dark comedy gem with a stellar cast and a bizarre-but-true story that delivers laughs and unforgettable moments.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is loosely based on the true story of Frances Toto, who made several unsuccessful attempts to kill her cheating husband, Anthony Toto, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in 1984.”
• “Lawrence Kasdan, known for directing dramas and action films, took on this project to explore a different genre, showcasing his versatility as a filmmaker.”
• “Phoebe Cates, Kevin Kline’s real-life wife, makes a cameo appearance as a woman Joey tries to pick up in a bar.”

🖥️ How to Watch I Love You to Death?

I Love You to Death is available to rent or purchase on various platforms, including Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. Check your local listings for cable or streaming availability. Unfortunately as of right now, it is not available on any subscription-based streaming services.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed I Love You to Death, you might like these similar films:

• A Fish Called Wanda (1988): Features Kevin Kline in another comedic role, with dark humor and criminal antics.
• Throw Momma from the Train (1987): Dark comedy about a murder plot gone wrong, fueled by familial frustration.
• Ruthless People (1986): Another dark comedy from the same era involving a kidnapping plot with bumbling criminals.
• Game Night (2018): Modern black comedy where a game night turns into a real-life crime scenario with unexpected twists and humor.
• Eating Raoul (1982): Cult classic black comedy involving murder as a means to an end, with quirky characters and absurd situations.

🛒 I Love You to Death Related Products

• I Love You to Death [DVD]: Own the classic dark comedy on DVD and relive the hilarious misadventures of Joey and Rosalie Boca.
• Funny Pizza T-Shirt: Show your love for pizza and comedy with this hilarious T-shirt.
• Classic Comedy Movie Poster: Add a touch of nostalgia to your home decor with this vibrant movie poster.

🎧 Soundtrack

I Love You to Death features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Colonel Bogey’s March” – performed by Kenneth Alford
• “N/A” – performed by James Horner

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

River Phoenix “I Love You To Death” 1990 – Bobbie Wygant Archive

Ever wonder what River Phoenix thought about making ‘I Love You To Death’? Check out this rare interview where he shares his thoughts on the film and his character. I found his comments on the film’s dark humor super interesting!

I love you to death – RIVER PHOENIX- I’m very disappointed

Need a quick refresher on the plot of ‘I Love You To Death’ or curious about the true story behind it? This video breaks it all down in under two minutes. Honestly, the real-life inspiration is even crazier than the movie!

✨ Rate