Frances O'Connor
20th Century Fox
2000
PG-13
Now in theaters
Elliot Richardson is Bedazzled by a beauty at work, and bedeviled by a sexy Satan. What's a man to do? Sell his soul for seven wishes and hope like Hell one of them wins him the girl.
Elliot Richardson is a desperate, eager to please, nerdy doormat. His co-workers either avoid him or make him the butt of their jokes. When Elliot falls for Alison he knows he's got no chance in Hell of winning her, that is, until he meets the Devil herself. She's happy to give him seven wishes in exchange for selling his soul. Elliot signs the monstrous contract and receives a tiny, red, "in case of emergency" cell phone. By dialing 666 he can discontinue any wish he's been granted should something go wrong...good thing too, as everything does.
This is a remake of the 1967 Dudley Moore/Peter Cook film, which I have not seen, so I can't make comparisons. That said, the sole strength of this updated version is Brendan Fraser. He does a phenomenal job playing six different characters. From a Colombian drug lord (my fave) to a Dennis Rodmanesque pro- basketball player, Brendan convincingly loses himself in the various personas. You actually forget at times that it's him.
Elizabeth Hurley plays a sassy, sexy Satan. The most evil thing about her is her overexaggerated strut. (Take it down a notch!) The best thing about her is attitude and apparel. (She's got more costume changes than Jennifer Lopez has low-cut dresses.)
Frances O'Connor actually portrays six versions of Alison and one additional character. Sadly, she lacked spark in all, but her news reporter role.
The fantasy sequences are fun and frightening as you guess what disaster will strike next. Unfortunately, the first wish is the best. From there the movie goes downhill. The characters get less and less funny and the ending, though admittedly not predictable, was unsatisfying to me and probably most true romantic comedy fans. I give this movie three hearts for too little romance and diminishing laughs.
Best lines:
"Dear God, I'd give anything to have that girl in my life."
Elliot, setting the proverbial fireball into
motion.
"I think you're hot."
"Baby, you've got no idea." Elliot to the "lady" in a sinful,
scarlet dress.
"Most men think they're God, this one just happens to be right." The Devil discussing her nemesis.
"The Devil gipped me for a Big Mac." Elliot realizing he's in trouble.
"What are you in for?"
"Eternity." Elliot answering his jailmate.
"It's not how far we get in life, it's how we get there."
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