Bedazzled (2000)

I gave it a 7.5 out of 10

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

A lonely employee at a software company, avoided by his colleagues due to his character and way of life, meets a very attractive woman who convinces him that she can grant 7 wishes. After accepting the deal, his life is turned upside-down, almost every wish of his becoming pretty soon a living nightmare, in his desperate attempt of winning the heart of a girl he likes. As everything in life has a price, he's going to find out that eventually he must pay for his wishes and tries to revert the contract.It's a plot which overall sounds very interesting and appealing, but as you're about to find out, badly executed. The main actor acts as a retarded schoolboy and with every wish he has, he's put into very embarrassing situations from which he doesn't seem to understand anything. Instead of being funny and entertaining, it gets dull, boring and loses interest right from the beginning. Unfortunately for me, the finale isn't good either. Although pretty unpredictable in a way, it doesn't do much to save the overall impression of this movie which is not to be seen by anyone, regardless of reasons.It had a good idea but as it happens with many films, especially comedies, it fails miserably when it comes to putting it into action. Maybe a different cast could have helped

Bedazzled is a funny and wholesome comedy, riddled with cheeky moments, and obvious with its character development. It is not one of Harold Ramis' best, but it definitely has his traits and in it own right, is a family classic. Fraser plays the unwitting fool perfectly; flirting between the lines of cringe and comedy. Elizabeth Hurley steals the show, playing the perfectly wicked devil. With class, sass, and punch, Hurley outshines every scene and makes Bedazzled memorable. The film ends on a cliché note, being cute, warm, and fuzzy. There's nothing terrible about the film, but nothing great either. It is a cutely wrapped present for that average moment.

Bedazzled (2000): Dir: Harold Ramis / Cast: Brendan Fraser, Elizabeth Hurley, Orlando Jones, Frances O'Connor, Brian Doyle- Murray: Title represents disbelief when expectations are not met but it falls short on its knowledge of Satan. As played by Elizabeth Hurley he is likable particularly when Hurley expresses affection for Brendan Fraser in the conclusion. Satan loves nobody and delights in seeing humanity fall apart. When a female co-worker ignores him he says he would give anything to have her. Hurley appears and willing to grant three wishes in return for his soul. Deceit infects plans as when he asks to be rich and she turns him into a drug lord. Conclusion is no surprise with bogus setup and repetitious storytelling. Inventive directing by Harold Ramis but this is a set back in comparison to his Caddyshack, Groundhog Day or National Lampoon's Vacation. Fraser is funny and given challenging material as he struggles to find the catch to each wish. Hurley gives faults impression of Satan in the film's biggest flaw. Frances O'Connor as the fixation is seen in different setups for which wish Frasrer makes. Orlando Jones is also featured in this visual lunacy. This is not a pleasant comedy like some of the other ventures that Ramis has done. The Bible teaches that in God's presence Satan flees, which is what viewers should do at the screening. Score: 5 / 10

Big fan of original and thought I wouldn't like this because of that, but when I eventually saw it, I liked it. It restyles the wishes for a modern day audience and they were mostly very funny. My favourite was the sensitive boy, the funniest by a long way. The two dogs named Dudley & Peter was a nice little nod to the innovative original too.Hurley was surprisingly good in her role and having a Brit starring in it was a the right thing to do. Frazer is a very good versatile actor, always good at comedy. It's more OTT than the original and it didn't last the distance quite as well, notably sagging in the last third, I thought. The script is funny but not subtle and witty like the 67 film. That script had a lot of Peter Cook gems in and is worth watching just to see a different type of humour.The remake didn't murder it at all, like some have wrongly said. It was a quite different version of it for more in your face modern tastes. Stands up on its own well if you didn't see or want to see the original, making it a worthy remake project. Thought it missed a trick by not including the seven deadly sins in person as the original did, one of my favourite scenes of the 67 film, however it helps make both films quite different watches. Just choose the version to suit your mood.