Bedazzled
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Elliot Richards, a socially awkward IT worker, is given seven wishes to get the girl of his dreams when he meets a very seductive Satan. The catch: his soul. Some of his wishes include being a 7 foot basketball star, a wealthy, powerful man, and a sensitive caring guy. But, as could be expected, the Devil puts her own little twist on each of his fantasies.
What critics thought
Harold Ramis's remake landed in deeply mixed territory — critics agreed the premise was strong and Hurley's devilish turn was a highlight, but most felt the film couldn't commit to its own comic logic, drifting from drawing-room wit into action-movie spectacle. Fraser drew kinder notices than the film around him, while Ramis was held to a higher standard given his track record with high-concept comedy.
“the new movie has been directed by Harold Ramis from a screenplay that uses the 1967 film more as inspiration than source. It is lacking in wickedness. It doesn't smack its lips when it's naughty. When its hero sells his soul to the devil, what results isn't diabolical effrontery, but a series of contract negotiations and consumer complaints.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“this 'Bedazzled,' though amusing from moment to moment, is erratic, unfocused and uncertain where it's going. And whenever it gets too insecure about itself, the film falls back, in classic the-devil-made-me-do-it Hollywood fashion, on explosions, gunfights, helicopter stunts, car crashes and computer-generated effects. What should be a drawing-room comedy ends with moments best left to Gone in 60 Seconds.”
Kenneth Turan·Los Angeles Times
“Bedazzled' recycled is not the finest hour for Fraser or Hurley—though Fraser, Elliot Richards in this movie, comes closer. It isn't Ramis' finest hour either—though he's one American moviemaker who excels at concept comedies, as he's proved in Groundhog Day, and the best parts of the crude and lewd Caddyshack. Bedazzled, one of the best comic premises ever, should have been duck soup to him.”
Michael Wilmington·Chicago Tribune
Genres
Fantasy, Comedy, Romance
Cast & Crew
Harold RamisDirector
Brendan FraserElliot
Elizabeth HurleyDevil
Frances O'ConnorAlison / Nicole
Miriam ShorCarol / Penthouse Hostess
Orlando JonesDan / Esteban / Beach Jock / Sportscaster / African Party Guest
Paul AdelsteinBob / Roberto / Beach Jock / Sportscaster / Lincoln Aide
Toby HussJerry / Alejandro / Beach Jock / Sportscaster / Lance
Gabriel CasseusElliot's Cellmate
Brian Doyle-MurrayPriest
Jeff DoucetteDesk Sergeant
Aaron LustigSynedyne Supervisor
Rudolf MartinRaoul
David NewmanComposer
Peter TolanWriter
Larry GelbartWriter
Bill PopeCinematographyBedazzled
Elliot Richards, a socially awkward IT worker, is given seven wishes to get the girl of his dreams when he meets a very seductive Satan. The catch: his soul. Some of his wishes include being a 7 foot basketball star, a wealthy, powerful man, and a sensitive caring guy. But, as could be expected, the Devil puts her own little twist on each of his fantasies.
What critics thought
Harold Ramis's remake landed in deeply mixed territory — critics agreed the premise was strong and Hurley's devilish turn was a highlight, but most felt the film couldn't commit to its own comic logic, drifting from drawing-room wit into action-movie spectacle. Fraser drew kinder notices than the film around him, while Ramis was held to a higher standard given his track record with high-concept comedy.
“the new movie has been directed by Harold Ramis from a screenplay that uses the 1967 film more as inspiration than source. It is lacking in wickedness. It doesn't smack its lips when it's naughty. When its hero sells his soul to the devil, what results isn't diabolical effrontery, but a series of contract negotiations and consumer complaints.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“this 'Bedazzled,' though amusing from moment to moment, is erratic, unfocused and uncertain where it's going. And whenever it gets too insecure about itself, the film falls back, in classic the-devil-made-me-do-it Hollywood fashion, on explosions, gunfights, helicopter stunts, car crashes and computer-generated effects. What should be a drawing-room comedy ends with moments best left to Gone in 60 Seconds.”
Kenneth Turan·Los Angeles Times
“Bedazzled' recycled is not the finest hour for Fraser or Hurley—though Fraser, Elliot Richards in this movie, comes closer. It isn't Ramis' finest hour either—though he's one American moviemaker who excels at concept comedies, as he's proved in Groundhog Day, and the best parts of the crude and lewd Caddyshack. Bedazzled, one of the best comic premises ever, should have been duck soup to him.”
Michael Wilmington·Chicago Tribune
Genres
Fantasy, Comedy, Romance
Cast & Crew
Harold RamisDirectorBrendan FraserElliotElizabeth HurleyDevilFrances O'ConnorAlison / NicoleMiriam ShorCarol / Penthouse HostessOrlando JonesDan / Esteban / Beach Jock / Sportscaster / African Party GuestPaul AdelsteinBob / Roberto / Beach Jock / Sportscaster / Lincoln AideToby HussJerry / Alejandro / Beach Jock / Sportscaster / LanceGabriel CasseusElliot's CellmateBrian Doyle-MurrayPriestJeff DoucetteDesk SergeantAaron LustigSynedyne SupervisorRudolf MartinRaoulDavid NewmanComposerPeter TolanWriterLarry GelbartWriterBill PopeCinematographyRent & Buy