User Reviews

***SPOILERS*** workaholic Ben Martin, Bill Macy, can't find time for anything else as enjoyable in his life but his work running his import export business. Working day and night with no days off or time for his wife Lianne, Samantha Harper, or children whom he hasn't seen in years Ben is literary working himself into an early grave.

It's one day when high pressure life insurance salesman Harry Harris, Robert Riesel, barges into his office with a proposition, or insurance policy, that seems to be too good to be true that the on the brink heart attack victim starts to take notice of his deteriorating health condition. Offering Ben a "Lifebomb" after demonstrating it on himself Harris soon gets Bens attention when he almost drops dead from heart failure a few days later.

With the "Lifebomb" strapped on him Ben now feels that he can abuse his health and not worry about losing, by suddenly dying, it. Ben's wife Lianne who thought that this life saving contraption would improve her and Ben's love life was sadly disappointed in him working even harder and longer hours then he even did before he got it! Ben even suffered an impending heart attack when he lost it, in Lianne nagging him for some attention, and let Lianne have it but the "Lifebomb" ended up saving his life!

***SPOILERS*** As Ben soon finds out his attention to his work starts to take a toll on his health despite the lifesaving "Lifebomb" he has strapped to his body. Yes it keeps him alive but doesn't cure him of the heart attacks he suffers while wearing it! It also doesn't save his marriage to Lianne who walks out on him after taking all she could from Ben and his 12am to 12pm, 24 hour around the clock, work schedule! Ben now dead but still alive, on life support, with nothing to look froward in his life but but pills tubes and needles to keep him going finally realizes what a mess he made of himself his family and even his business! That by not taking it easy every once and a while and enjoying the life that he now wishes he'd lose but can't courtesy of his life saving "Lifebomb".

There are times where episodes of Tales from the Darkside just leave me very indifferent. I'm not sure what it is about "Lifebomb" but it just really doesn't leave much of an impression. The episode just kind of comes and goes over 20 minutes and I couldn't care less about what the tale has to say. It is about a Fortune 500 multi-millionaire businessman with serious health issues (his heart, ulcers, smoking, etc) and spends way too much time in the office. Dealing with a mining crisis that will cost him millions due to families receiving settlements and his company's reputation deteriorating (clients from other countries are leaving, politicians his company has supported in the past are trying to cut ties), while also contending with a discontented wife who demands his affections, Ben Martin (Bill Macy), is consumed with problems that are certain to cost him his life. A company sales rep offers Martin a chance to "guard his life" through a device surgically implanted called lifebomb, a very persuasive fellow named Henry Harris (Robert Riesel), who works for insurance companies needing their clients to live as long as possible. After nearly suffering a coronary, Martin calls Harris up, signs the contract, receives the lifebomb, and lives to regret it as his company continues to sink and his wife decides to leave him because of his lack of attention to her and long hours at work. Soon, Martin just wants to die, but his lifebomb contract won't allow it. That's pretty much it. Nothing at all that memorable to report. Character actor Bill Macy has always played the agonizing nervous wreck who yells a lot well. His performance isn't the problem here, it is just the so-so material that lacks any real punch. The lesson is that you buy what you pay for and perhaps prolonged life isn't what it is cut out to be.

Workaholic wealthy businessman Ben Martin (well played by Bill Macy) has a special device implanted in his body from the mysterious medical firm Lifebomb that enables him to live forever. However, Been soon wishes that he could just die. Director Frank De Palma, working from an offbeat and interesting script by Michael Kube-McDowell, relates the compelling story at a steady pace, maintains an intriguing enigmatic air, and nicely captures the tremendous pressure that a person in a privileged position of great authority and responsibility feels. The sound acting from the capable cast keeps this episode humming: Macy nails the weariness and stressed-out nature of his character; he receives sturdy support from Robert Riesel as affable and dynamic sales rep Henry Harris, Samantha Harper as Ben's fed-up neglected wife Lianne, Geneva Simmons as business partner Donna Kern, and Patsy Whitecotton as loyal secretary Kellie. Moreover, there's a strong and provocative point about the heavy price one must pay for cheating fate and the perils of getting exactly what you paid for. A worthwhile show.