Checking Out (1989)

In the heart of the comedic whirlwind that is "Checking Out" (1989), we meet Ray, a man whose life is as colorful as his obsessions. His successful career in the airline industry is overshadowed by a fixation with his own mortality, a concern that spirals into overdrive following a tragic personal loss. When his best friend and colleague abruptly dies of a heart attack mid-joke, Ray is left grappling with his own perceived aches and pains, convinced that his end is nigh. The joke, an unfinished punchline about Italians and barbecues, hangs in the air, a poignant reminder of life's unpredictability. Ray's life swiftly morphs into a comical tableau of health-related fears, his days consumed by anxiety and hypochondria. His fixation with death turns his life into a slapstick farce, where every minor ache is a grim harbinger of his imminent demise. However, amidst the hilarity of his escalating paranoia, Ray begins to learn a valuable lesson about fear, understanding that it's not death he should be afraid of, but fear itself. "Checking Out" is a vibrant exploration of life, death, and the comical absurdity that lies in between, promising a rollercoaster ride of laughter and introspection.

Checking Out is a comedy movie featuring Jeff Daniels.

Checking Out is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.