Bedazzled

Rating:
Summary: Bedazzled Scores A New Low.............
Review: I went to see this movie at a special for-free screening and was mad because it wasted my time. This movie is not entertaining flat out. One: The story has been done to death. This version does put more comedy into it but not enough to talk about. Two: All the best parts were on the preview. I know it's a cliche' but it's true if you watched the preview there is no need to see the movie , other then to waste an hour and a hlf of your life. Three: totally predictable build up with the most anti-climactic/entertaining ending of 2000! The only thing Bedazzling about this movie was Liz Hurley's outfits. Sorry, 1 star

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable Frolic with the "Devil" (?)
Review: I've not seen the original, so I can't compare the two, but this update was a fairly clever light movie, played strictly for laughs. Elizabeth Hurley must be the most benign devil ever imagined--although she does make Brendan Fraser's wishes go astray, she also gives him a pager (press 666) which allows him to return to his normal existance without harm. It's quite a different take on ol' Satan, and although at one point she loses her temper, that's the only threatening moment. Eternal damnation seems more like a party that's gone on a little too long than Dante's grim visions of torment. Although making theological arguements surely wasn't its intent, Beelzebub's portrayal as a trickster rather than a torturer is intriguing. Satan's origin as an angel created by God himself and therefore an aspect of God himself is appropriate for the complex world in which we live. Hurley's devil is not Evil incarnate, and indeed, at one point she appears as an angel in white with wings and halo, although she says "Don't get excited, it's just a Halloween costume." And most theologically interesting is the statement by one particular character to the effect that it didn't matter if someone sells their soul, because a person's soul isn't theirs to sell. The implication here, although it wasn't followed up because it would have made the ending moot, is that Satan is ultimately powerless--powerless to collect the debt, and powerless to prevail over God's love. Indeed, ultimately Satan is just another of God's creatures, working to God's mysterious purpose.

That said, convervative Christians are most likely to disagree with me and will probably despise every minute of this movie. They are likely to take one of two interpretations: that this movie glorifies the devil, or conversely, that it falsely and dangerously obscures his evil powers.

Myself, I mostly thought it was a pretty funny movie.

Rating:
Summary: Overall Pretty Entertaining
Review: Brendan Fraser has been put on this Earth to make movies that are only supposed to entertain. This is one of them. The movie does not try to go any further than it should, it only tries to get laughs. And at most points, it succeeds.

Elliot is a loser who has little to no social skills at all. He is heavily attracted to a coworker, but does not offer her anything that she is looking for. In comes the Devil, played by the worst of the worst, Elizabeth Hurley. She offers Elliot 7 wishes. He only has to say what he wants, and it comes true, if it were not for that terrible actress that plays the Devil. The Devil ruins every one of his wishes, and this is where the film gets way to predictable. At the end of all his fantasies, you can pretty much predict that things will not work, but they attempt to get laughs along the way.

Overall the film is watchable, but it does not take advantage of all of its opportunities. This film could have done much more, and offered us bigger laughs, but it went for the easy out and did not get too ambitious.

Rating:
Summary: Not the Best, But Better than Some
Review: I can't say if the remake was anything like the original since I have yet to see the original starring Dudley Moore. But this one had its' funny moments here and there. Brendan Fraser plays a lonely computer analyst who is madly in love with a co-worker who doesn't even know that he exists. His friends hate him and he doesn't really know what to do. Enter the Devil. Disguised as the beuatiful Elizabeth Hurley, the Devil cons Fraser out of his soul for 7 wishes. Each wish is a little worse than the next and offers a few laughs. I really expected a little more from a combination of Fraser and Ramis. But I did enjoy it for the most part. One to watch, but not to buy.

Rating:
Summary: TeachesTree of Life Stuff
Review: This was a clever movie, that teaches a valuable lesson...To be happy with yourself, as you are. Brandon Frazier was a changed man, for the better, after so many halarious flops, at trying to be someone else. I thought, it was cute, how they showed that the devil was behind distributing parking tickets, a cheerleader and a nurse giving candy for medication, and all her other bad deeds, doing her part to make people miserable.

Rating:
Summary: Definitely Fraser's best comedy
Review: Brendan Fraser (who I've previously sworn off completely) turns out probably his best performance so far as a lonely office worker who meets The Devil in a bar one night (Elizabeth Hurley). He trades his soul for 7 wishes that result in a series of vignettes in which Fraser and co-stars take on different personas. Fraser plays a Columbian drug lord, an NBA Star and many more including my favorite - the freckled Sensitive Man. There's a strong subtext of fantasy versus real desire and Hurley's procession of tawdry male fantasies (nurse, schoolgirl, policewoman) is classic. You won't remember it a month from now, but it's a nice little comedic getaway.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful story with a wonderful message.
Review: I laughed through this entire movie. Of course the theme has been done before but this was a cute and funny portrayal of the "Careful what you wish for" message. Brendan Frasier is adorable and absolutely lovable. Elizabeth Hurley is so beautiful and so devilish. You have to love her even though she is playing Lucifer. The message of this movie is one that I think everyone should learn. Even young kids should see this movie. Not only will they find it hilarious but they will also learn something from it, how to be selfless. I plan to own this when it comes out on DVD. It is one of my favorites.

Rating:
Summary: A Dazzling Display By Fraser, Hurley
Review: A crash course on how to beat the Devil, or Faust played for laughs; however you want to look at it, "Bedazzled," directed by Harold Ramis, is a diverting comedy, easy on the eyes (courtesy of stars Brendan Fraser and Elizabeth Hurley), extremely palatable, and just funny enough to be satisfying. Ramis delivers it all with a steady hand and a straightforward approach that, while the story is not entirely imaginative (deals with the Devil aren't exactly anything new, cinematically speaking), finds a comfort zone that works and manages to garner some good laughs along the way. Fraser is Elliot Richards, a friendless, lonely young man whose life begins to heat up when the Devil (Hurley) seeks him out and offers him a deal he can't refuse; it's seven wishes, any one of which will land him the girl of his dreams, co-worker Alison (Frances O'Connor), who after four years of working in the same building doesn't know Elliot exists. For Elliot, who demurs initially, it's just too good to pass up, especially when the Devil convinces him that a soul is something that is entirely overrated. Fraser gets a chance to showcase his versatility as an actor here, as each wish lands him inside the skin of a different character. It's an engaging performance, with characters all over the map that take Elliot through a comedic journey of discovery that ends with an epiphany of sorts, about happiness and where you find it. But then there's this deal he made; is it too late? Hurley turns in a good performance as the ultimate seducer; it's not difficult to believe that a guy like Elliot could easily fall under her spell. But what makes it so easy to swallow is that there's no attempt to make this out to be anything but what it is, which is fantasy played for fun. It's obvious that Ramis knows his territory, and with the help of some clever, witty dialogue, he keeps a plot that is somewhat predictable fresh, and while it may not soar, he does keep the ship aloft and adds some nice touches, like the use of "dialogue bubbles" at the beginning of the movie to indicate some humorous traits of a number of randomly selected people from among the 6.2 billion that populate the earth. The supporting cast includes Miriam Shor (Carol), Orlando Jones (Dan), Paul Adelstein (Bob), Toby Huss (Lance), Gabriel Casseus (Elliot's cellmate) and Brian Doyle-Murray (Priest). Perhaps not one of the more memorable films of the year, "Bedazzled" nevertheless is pleasant entertainment that provides some chuckles and even a bit of a moral. All in all it's good comedy that stays above much of the base fare being offered today; it's a fun movie that works, and well deserving of a look. I think you'll be glad you stopped by.

Rating:
Summary: I wish...
Review: ... this movie had more substance.

Lest you feel disappointed, please do read on.

This movie is packed with scenes that would make you laugh until you want to cry. Brendan Fraser has made the movie more worthy than it really is with his superb acting.

We see him transformed from a Spanish Drug Dealer to a Super Sensitive guy, a US President to a basketball player... prepare to slap your thighs with laughter as Brendan tickles you pink with his fantastic acting.

Elizabeth Hurley is well suited for the role of the devil. Her ruse to keep Brendan in check makes her so charming you almost want to side with her.

Even though the "moral" of the story is obvious and the "way out" almost sacrilegious, watch it for the laughs. Don't expect to learn a lesson in life here...

Rating:
Summary: Very Funny
Review: In a remake of the faustein classic With Dudley Moore. Hollywood hired Harold Ramis to guide this romantic comedy. Brendan fraser plays Elliot who is a nerd and he has never been popular in his whole life and he wants to win over a fellow co-worker he has a crush on. So he sells his soul to the devil. At this secret night club owned by the devil their in turn for his soul he gets seven free wishes. The devil is luscious played by Liz Hurley who is sizziling so beautiful to look at. So he gets his wishes.

The whole concept is not original because this is a remake. But iit is very funny. The opening title sequence is very funny. In the begining is pretty dumb and dorky but as the film goes on it gets very funny. Harold Ramis is back after the dismal Analyze This in my opinion. Liz Hurley is gorgeous and Brendan fraser is funny.

I would go see this Devil of a comedy. Or just for Liz Hurley.