Bedazzled (2000)... Should work, but doesn't.
Last month, Mr. Hall was away on business, so I wound up having some free time to myself to watching some movies. I wanted to watch something I hadn't seen before, and was vaguely Halloween-themed, so I scrolled down through my options on Amazon Prime, and came across two films -- Bedazzled, and Interview with the Vampire. I really debated which one to watch... until I noticed that Bedazzled was a Harold Ramis film.
"Harold Ramis?! Director of my favorite movie ever, Groundhog Day, plus Brendan Fraser, star of numerous 90's-era films I enjoy?! I'm in!"
Well, it... it wasn't a terrible experience. It had a few mild laughs. But it started out much more promisingly than it finished.
Premise (from IMdB): "Desperate to gain the affection of a beautiful co-worker, Elliot (Brendan Fraser) strikes a deal with the Devil (Elizabeth Hurley) -- a drop dead gorgeous woman with a wicked sense of humor. In exchange for Elliot's soul, she will grant him 7 wishes. But with each wish, he gets more than he asked for."
Brendan Fraser, nerd. Orlando Jones - not having it.So, the "more" (for which he did not ask) includes:
1. He asks to be rich and powerful and married to the woman of his dreams -- and is made a columbian drug lord with a wife who hates him.
2. He asks to be the most sensitive man in the world -- and is made into a wuss that the girl hates.
3. He asks to be a successful, gigantic, well-beloved, athlete -- and is given a tiny wiener.
4. He asks to be the President of the United States -- and is made into Lincoln.
Etc. etc. Only a couple wishes pan out into anything substantive -- the majority of the rest of the scenarios feel like one-note, one-joke. The scenarios aren't funny enough. It just doesn't really work, nor does the ultimate resolution. I mean, in Groundhog Day, the film starts out with Bill Murray being a self-absorbed jerk (imagine that), but, ultimately, the whole movie is about this guy getting less selfish and becoming comfortable in his own skin. And [spoiler] that's the resolution we're given at the end of this film! The problem is, the character Brendan Fraser plays isn't really a jerk -- he's just socially awkward and obnoxious, which don't necessarily seem to be qualities he's purposefully aiming for -- he just doesn't know any better, and tries too hard. If it was about him learning to be less socially awkward... Well, is that really a philosophical issue that God and the Devil need to get involved in? There is a minor twist in the ending which I won't spoil for you, which I guess was the part I liked best -- but, frankly, I found the makeup he has to wear during his various incarnations to be downright distracting.
Brendan Fraser with big nose equals Columbian Drug Lord -- or Ron Jeremy?I do understand it was supposed to be "funny" makeup -- but, for the most part, it was just gross. Brendan Fraser is a funny actor! Don't stick goop all over his face and tell him to act through it! It's not necessary! And it kind of just ruined these scenes.
Seriously. This is so unsettling. Please stop.
Guh!! I'm going to throw up!
I really, really liked the opening of the movie, because it was a great chance for Brendan Fraser to demonstrate his range. He's played a lot of "dumb likeable man" in films -- but this film starts out with him as a wormy weirdo who's strongly disliked by all his coworkers. He reminded me so much of several co-workers I've known that I wanted to grapefruit this guy.
FYI, this is a grapefruiting.
But, rather than continue with that really nice, really convincing character work, the film just degenerated into those cheap comedy skits. When our hero finally realizes that selling his soul was a bad idea, it feels like a very abrupt turn around, because he hasn't had any time to emotionally mature in this movie. (I don't blame Brendan Fraser. He can only work with what he's given.)
All and all.... It was a pretty weak film. There were bits and pieces I liked, but the structure just didn't hold up, and they made some technical errors of judgement (the makeup. Dear heaven, the makeup!!) Not to mention that the philosophy they use (you have to get into philosophy when you're making a movie that features both God and the devil) ... was Star Wars-level (prequels, not original trilogy) and sends confusing messages. Satan is a kind, friendly lady, and God is just personified "Force":
Which all degenerates into a weak "evil and good are just two sides of the same coin" "ooooh heaven is a place on earth"-type philosophical wrap-ups in the end. Pretty lame.
Now, in the course of writing this, I did a little research, and discovered that Bedazzled was actually based on a 1960's movie (also called Bedazzled) starring Dudley Moore and Peter Cook. So, it could be that a lot of what I perceive as problems with this film actually come from directly from that, and weren't the fault of Harold Ramis. I don't know, I haven't seen it.
But, regardless of whether it's problems were created or inherited, it Bedazzled still has problems. Watch it if you love Brendan Fraser (he's got a handful of really good moments in this film), Elizabeth Hurley and/or Harold Ramis, but it's probably not worth keeping on your shelf.
"Harold Ramis?! Director of my favorite movie ever, Groundhog Day, plus Brendan Fraser, star of numerous 90's-era films I enjoy?! I'm in!"
Well, it... it wasn't a terrible experience. It had a few mild laughs. But it started out much more promisingly than it finished.
Premise (from IMdB): "Desperate to gain the affection of a beautiful co-worker, Elliot (Brendan Fraser) strikes a deal with the Devil (Elizabeth Hurley) -- a drop dead gorgeous woman with a wicked sense of humor. In exchange for Elliot's soul, she will grant him 7 wishes. But with each wish, he gets more than he asked for."
Brendan Fraser, nerd. Orlando Jones - not having it.So, the "more" (for which he did not ask) includes:1. He asks to be rich and powerful and married to the woman of his dreams -- and is made a columbian drug lord with a wife who hates him.
2. He asks to be the most sensitive man in the world -- and is made into a wuss that the girl hates.
3. He asks to be a successful, gigantic, well-beloved, athlete -- and is given a tiny wiener.
4. He asks to be the President of the United States -- and is made into Lincoln.
Etc. etc. Only a couple wishes pan out into anything substantive -- the majority of the rest of the scenarios feel like one-note, one-joke. The scenarios aren't funny enough. It just doesn't really work, nor does the ultimate resolution. I mean, in Groundhog Day, the film starts out with Bill Murray being a self-absorbed jerk (imagine that), but, ultimately, the whole movie is about this guy getting less selfish and becoming comfortable in his own skin. And [spoiler] that's the resolution we're given at the end of this film! The problem is, the character Brendan Fraser plays isn't really a jerk -- he's just socially awkward and obnoxious, which don't necessarily seem to be qualities he's purposefully aiming for -- he just doesn't know any better, and tries too hard. If it was about him learning to be less socially awkward... Well, is that really a philosophical issue that God and the Devil need to get involved in? There is a minor twist in the ending which I won't spoil for you, which I guess was the part I liked best -- but, frankly, I found the makeup he has to wear during his various incarnations to be downright distracting.
Brendan Fraser with big nose equals Columbian Drug Lord -- or Ron Jeremy?I do understand it was supposed to be "funny" makeup -- but, for the most part, it was just gross. Brendan Fraser is a funny actor! Don't stick goop all over his face and tell him to act through it! It's not necessary! And it kind of just ruined these scenes.
Seriously. This is so unsettling. Please stop.
Guh!! I'm going to throw up!I really, really liked the opening of the movie, because it was a great chance for Brendan Fraser to demonstrate his range. He's played a lot of "dumb likeable man" in films -- but this film starts out with him as a wormy weirdo who's strongly disliked by all his coworkers. He reminded me so much of several co-workers I've known that I wanted to grapefruit this guy.
FYI, this is a grapefruiting.But, rather than continue with that really nice, really convincing character work, the film just degenerated into those cheap comedy skits. When our hero finally realizes that selling his soul was a bad idea, it feels like a very abrupt turn around, because he hasn't had any time to emotionally mature in this movie. (I don't blame Brendan Fraser. He can only work with what he's given.)
All and all.... It was a pretty weak film. There were bits and pieces I liked, but the structure just didn't hold up, and they made some technical errors of judgement (the makeup. Dear heaven, the makeup!!) Not to mention that the philosophy they use (you have to get into philosophy when you're making a movie that features both God and the devil) ... was Star Wars-level (prequels, not original trilogy) and sends confusing messages. Satan is a kind, friendly lady, and God is just personified "Force":
Which all degenerates into a weak "evil and good are just two sides of the same coin" "ooooh heaven is a place on earth"-type philosophical wrap-ups in the end. Pretty lame.
Now, in the course of writing this, I did a little research, and discovered that Bedazzled was actually based on a 1960's movie (also called Bedazzled) starring Dudley Moore and Peter Cook. So, it could be that a lot of what I perceive as problems with this film actually come from directly from that, and weren't the fault of Harold Ramis. I don't know, I haven't seen it.
But, regardless of whether it's problems were created or inherited, it Bedazzled still has problems. Watch it if you love Brendan Fraser (he's got a handful of really good moments in this film), Elizabeth Hurley and/or Harold Ramis, but it's probably not worth keeping on your shelf.
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