With
Lost Souls and a re-release of The Exorcist, it seems that people can't get enough
of the devil these days. Bedazzled runs Old Scratch up the flagpole once again--but
this time it's played for laughs.
Veteran
funny man Harold Ramis (director of Groundhog Day, Analyze This, and co-writer
and co-star of the Ghostbuster films) directs and co-writes this story of a sweet
natured guy (Brendan Fraser), who doesn't have any real friends. To top that off,
the woman of his dreams (Frances O'Connor) doesn't even know he exists. Fraser
gets the offer of a lifetime when the devil (sexy Elizabeth Hurley) offers him
seven wishes in return for his soul. So basically, Bedazzled tells seven different
stories, in the form of Fraser's wishes, and naturally none of his dreams turn
out to be quite what he expected. (Selling your soul never works out worth a crap).
Bedazzled
is certainly not the best comedy ever made, but it does offer several laugh-out-loud
moments and a very likable comedic turn by Fraser. In fact, Fraser's appeal is
what really makes the film work. Hurley is a beauty to behold, but the story isn't
really about her. Most of the big laughs in the film belong to Brendan.
Screenwriters
Ramis, Peter Tolan (Analyze This) and Larry Gelbart (Neighbors) don't conjure
up anything very complicated. This is a very loose screenplay and much of the
film seems improvised. Gelbart has tackled this subject matter before with the
George Burns/John Denver film Oh God! (Thankfully Burns stuck to the sweater vests
and and disdained the tight red leather.)
Ramis
does nothing more than have a good time, and I actually liked this much more than
his last film Multiplicity. On the other hand, my expectations weren't very high--the
previews looked downright awful. As it turns out Bedazzled is an enjoyable little
dance with the devil.
