Film review: Bedazzled (2000), directed by Harold Ramis
Chronic loser Elliot Richards (Brendan Fraser) works in tech support at a big company, spending most of his time being obnoxious to his workmates and generally hated behind his back. When he’s not being a dick, he lusts after the beautiful Alison (Frances O’Connor), who works in a different part of the company. Oh, if only there was some way he could make her fall in love with him.
Elliot would totally sell his soul for the opportunity.
Literally.
That’s right, along comes the Devil (Elizabeth Hurley – oh hey, a Brit playing a baddie? Surely not!), promising Elliot exactly what he wants, and more. He just needs to sign a teeny tiny li’l contract …
To sign away your soul to the Devil in return for a number of wishes isn’t the best of ideas, though, and soon Elliot realises he’s got more than he bargained for. See, when the Devil says she’ll grant you a wish, there’s no saying that wish works out exactly the way you planned it. Elliot learns that the hard way, very quickly. You can see where it’s going and in fact, I made it into a bit of a sport to try to figure out how the wish would be misinterpreted. Fairly easy, to be honest, but a good giggle nonetheless.
Is Brendan Fraser some kind of American version of Hugh Grant? Actually, no. They might have a bit of the bumbling but lovable fool about them, but on the other hand, there’s no equivalent to George of the Jungle or The Mummy trilogy in Grant’s career. Also, I find Fraser hilarious. Not only is the man good-looking, but he also has very good comedy timing. To see him in a comedy is therefore a nice idea. He does it very well.
Liz Hurley is there to provide a pretty face, hot body and a British accent. That’s about it. To see a woman as the Devil, is it all that revolutionary? Not really. And since Morgan Freeman as God in Bruce Almighty, one scene in the film with a mysterious, wise man … the identity of Mr Mystery Man doesn’t feel particularly mysterious.
But, nonetheless, Bedazzled isn’t particularly clever or anything, but it’s definitely entertaining. And has some kind of message of being nice to your fellow human in there too.
All in all, it’s an average 3 out of 5 souls.
