Rating: Summary: Bedraggled Review: In the inaptly named "Bedazzled" - a virtually laughless remake of a 1967 Peter Cook/Dudley Moore comedy - the old Faust legend takes one of its severest beatings ever. I've seen the original film only once before - at a revival theatre in the mid '70's - and remember finding it to be a fresh, original and occasionally laugh-out-loud hilarious British comedy. Unfortunately, none of those adjectives can be applied to this newest version, which strands Brandan Fraser and the stunning Elizabeth Hurley in 90-minutes worth of repetitious humorless nonsense. Strike one against this film is that it is basically a one-joke concept stretched out to be a full length feature film - sort of like a 90-minute version of a mediocre "Bewitched" episode. Hopelessly nerdy Elliot (Fraser) - who is such an overbearing geek that his coworkers are forced to run and hide when he comes in their vicinity - makes an idle wish one day to be with the beautiful young woman he loves and yearns for from afar. Enter Hurley as the devil who takes Elliot in hand, promising him that he will be granted seven wishes on the understanding that his soul will be required as final payment. What Elliot doesn't understand is that making a bargain with the "Father of Lies" - even if in the guise of a beautiful woman - virtually guarantees that each wish will, in some way, fall far short of securing him total happiness. Since the 1967 original managed to make a genuinely funny comedy out of the very same material, we must assume that the failure of this version lies not in the premise but in the execution. So where did this particular group of filmmakers go wrong? Part of the problem may lie in the fact that Brandan Fraser, though a likable enough actor on the surface, is hardly a gifted subtle comedian on the level of Dudley Moore. Elizabeth Hurley, easily one of the most stunningly gorgeous actresses working in films today, looks sensational in the part of the temptress and she does convey a certain sly sexiness that might have worked if the jokes had simply been funnier. Here too is part of the problem - the weakness of the script. The scrapes Elliot inadvertently wishes himself into are simply not very imaginative or humorous. One of the funniest sequences I have ever seen in a film actually occurs in the original "Bedazzled," when Moore finds himself stranded in a convent filled with nuns bouncing on trampolines. This film could have used a few bouncing nuns I think. Instead, Elliot's adventures come across as hopelessly mundane in their nature and, even worse, the caricatures he is called upon to act out in many of the scenes border nearly on the grotesque. Perhaps, Jim Carey might have been able to pull this part off. Fraser just seems stranded way over his head during much of the film. You know you're in trouble when, as a viewer, you begin to count off how many wishes the main character has already used up. If it weren't for the eye-candy provided by Ms. Hurley, "Bedazzled" would truly be hell on Earth. As it is, it seems more like purgatory. Now if only we could figure out which sins we are being forced to atone for. If I knew, I promise I would stop committing them immediately.
Rating: Summary: A few holes in the storyline, other than that, a cute movie Review: This is a real fun movie. Basically what happens is, Eliot (played by Brendan Fraiser) is a lonley, geeky loser who will do anything for a love of his life. Once he states "I will do anything to get that woman in my life," Satan (played by Liz hurley)quickley puts his words to the test. Satan grants Eliot 7 wishes any way he wants. But Eliot ends up crawling back (and complaining) after every wish. But in the end he discovers that love isnt all it's cacked up to be, as he finds the love of his life... ...but its not Alison. There were a lot of holes in the plot, however. If one wish can be used to make you life okay, and to go back and mak another wish, it removes the other wish away from you, than why were there 7 wishes? He also seemed to fit several wishes in to one. Another thing I would ask, is why didnt Eliot just take his first wish and bulid on that? He erases every previous wish, and gets on with the next one. And why didn't he wish for his next wish to work out for him? Overall, it's a cute movie. And Liz Hurley is to hot to completely cound this movie out. There were a lot of funny parts, and decent acting. Good movie.
Rating: Summary: all the privileges of a DVD viewer Review: This is a movie that best proves all the advantages a DVD can offer (scene selections, cast & crew interviews, deleted scenes, behind the scenes, bla bla bla). Come on guys, buy the DVD, enjoy all those features and laugh your evening away... Of course Brendan Fraser was hilarious, but what really got me was Liz Hurley's irresistible charm (her accent included). I couldn't understand why that guy Elliott (Fraser) kept yearning for his girl Alison (O'Connor). If the devil came up to me with Liz Hurley's smile, I'd pick HER instead. What the hell...
Rating: Summary: One of the funniest movies I've ever seen! Review: Bedazzled tells the story of love struck cyber geek Elliot Richards (Brendan Fraser), who learns the hard way to be careful for what you wish, you just might get it. Elizabeth Hurley plays a ravishingly seductive "Princess" of Darkness who talks Richards into selling his soul in exchange for seven wishes. What follows is a series of extremely funny skits in which Richards discovers the perils inherent in any dealings with the devil. This is a very well written, directed and acted film (one should also applaud the make-up director). Above and beyond even the appeal of seeing Elizabeth Hurley strut around in devilishly tight leather, one must bow to the comic talent of Brendan Fraser. Bedazzled is "his" movie. Enjoy!
Rating: Summary: entertaining but not a blockbuster Review: Bedazzled is a cute movie. I enjoyed it because Brendan Fraser plays a lonely guy who wants to turn his life around and just get the girl of his dreams, something a lot of people (myself included) can relate to. He's looking for something better in his life and wants to be someone special. After saying the magic words "I would give anything", along comes the very beautiful Elizabeth Hurley, aka Satan. She promises to give Fraser everything he wants in return for his soul. The story moves on from that point through all of Fraser's attempts to wish himself a better life. The movie gets pretty predictable at that point and you'll get frustrated with the stupid situations Fraser keeps getting himself in. The ending is pretty predictable too. I still enjoyed Bedazzled but its not something I would add to my permanent DVD collection. The movie is good for some laughs and is a nice comic parody involving the Devil, but it's certainly not a classic.
Rating: Summary: This movie is a hoot! Review: I just finished watching this movie and it laughted so hard I cried. The scene where Frazer plays a sports hero is an absolute classic. The scene is worthy of an Oscar, even though hell might actually freeze over before this could be contemplated. Brendan Frazer is absolutely brilliant and this movie allows him to demonstrate some of his ability as an actor. I only hope he had as much fun playing the parts as I had watching them. Elizabeth Hurley played her part to the hilt and I couldn't imagine a more tempting Devil. My only regret? That I wasted money renting the DVD. Buy it and enjoy the show.
Rating: Summary: put this movie out of its misery! Review: BEDAZZLED is one of those movies that's better in its preview/trailer form than in the whole. I saw the previews last year, and thought if Harold Ramis is directing it, this'll be great comedy. Save your money. What could've been a fun time watching Brendan Fraser and Elizabeth Hurley, falls flat in the first half hour. They are both decent comic actors, but you wouldn't know it from all the cliches they play over and over. I watched this to the end hoping it would get better. It didn't. Harold Ramis struck out directing this movie.
Rating: Summary: Devilish fun Review: If you want a fun escapist film, this is it. I have never seen the original Bedazzled with Dudley Moore so I cannot make any comparisions between the versions. However, Brendan Fraser and Elizabeth Hurley do a terrific job and it looks like they had a lot of fun. Brendan Fraser Elliot Richards plays a computer "nerd" who really is a sweetheart pining after his dream girl, Alison Gardner, a woman who works for the same company he does and has never noticed him. He wishes more than anything to "have her in his life". Be careful what you wish for because when the Devil in a red dress--Elizabeth Hurley-- gives him a chance to do just that in exchange for his soul, the results are hilarious.
Rating: Summary: Waste. Review: Faustian "comedy" about a nerd who is willing to sell his soul to the Devil for a happy relationship with a beautiful co-worker. The Devil, who, as played by Elizabeth Hurley, as least looks good, grants our nebbish 7 wishes to help him "improve" himself in his lady-love's eyes. Natch, each wish turns out to be a trick. This movie is apparently a remake of another movie starring Dudley Moore that came out in the 1960's. Tinseltown has clearly given up: the screenwriters have got out of Dodge; there are no new stories left. In a year in which *Gladiator* -- itself a remake of *The Fall of the Roman Empire* -- won Best Picture, *Bedazzled* merely seems the norm, as opposed to the inexcusable waste of time that it really is. This is indeed a waste: of a talented comic actor (Fraser); of a talented director (Ramis); of an incredible sum of money that could've kept Rwanda fed for a year. Doubtless 2000's *Bedazzled* has nastier gags that the original. Doubtless, also, studio execs define that as "reinvention".
Rating: Summary: A Great Movie and An Even Better DVD Review: Bedazzled is a great movie which stars Brendan Fraser and Elizabeth Hurley. In this movie, Fraser plays a nerd who wants to get the girl of his dreams and is given that chance by the devil played by Elizabeth Hurley. Fraser gets seven wishes and as the movie progresses you see Fraser's character turn into a drug lord to a basketball player and see him from nerd to Mr. Confident. This movie is hysterical and what makes this movie even better are the cool features in the DVD. The DVD contains some commentary and a still gallery PLUS if you look hard enough you can find the 10 minute EASTER EGG of Fraser as a rock star. Be warned though, this special feature has some mild language problems. Overall, with a great movie and plenty of extras, this is a must have DVD.
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