Hey folks, Harry here. And ya know... This is one of those movies that I just really wish had never been made. The original BEDAZZLED.... WHICH ISN'T ONE OF THE FUNNIEST HUNDRED FILMS OF ALL TIME ACCORDING TO THAT FUCKING RETARDED AFI!!!! is one of my favorite films. I mean... it's just fantastic. The idea of making Satan pathetically evil is just.... beautiful. Peter Cook was a genius and Dudley Moore was at his peak. But alas... the AFI IS FILLED WITH A BUNCH OF FREAKIN ASSHOLES AND MORONS THAT MERELY COME TO AN AVERAGE OPINION! Anyways.... You should note that this film is very very rough, and as a comedy... Ramis will most likely test the film multiple times to find the jokes that don't work... to tighten pacing and to fix the problems. BUT... as of this day and time... this was what THe Wicker Man thought of this film...
Spolier-Free Review
Hey Harry,
Long time reader, first time reviewer. Managed to catch a test screening for BEDAZZLED last night with the man Harold Ramis himself in attendance. Now I am of the mindset that Ramis is indeed a comedy god, one of few filmmakers who make me drool with anticipation whenever one of their films is on the way, While I really dug ANAYLYZE THIS, I felt that his material as of late has not matched up to masterworks such as CADDYSHACK or GROUNDHOG DAY, etc. etc. The temp-track was pretty much tacked on and there is much blue-screen and color correction to be fixed up, but the opening titles were already in place. It seems there is still work to be done on this film, so it's not quite finished.
Let me start off by saying this movie is really good. It's pretty solid, with problems, but it doesn't match the aforementioned films, which is a mighty task I might add. It was co-written by Ramis, Larry Gelbart, and Peter Tolan (part of the "What Planet Are You From" team). Basically, Brendan Fraser plays Elliot Richards, a nebbishy office worker that annoys the hell out of his co-workers, so much so that they can't wait to get away from him. He is in love with Alison, played by Francis O'Connor, a beautiful, unattainable woman also from his office that is way out of his league. All he wants is to have her, so in comes Elizabeth Hurley, A.K.A. The Devil, who grants him seven wishes in exchange for his soul. Elliot agrees, only the wishes aren't always what he planned.
The performances are all pretty good, with the shining exception of Brendan Fraser going from goofball to suave very effortlessly, and showing some very hilarious jabs at his studly-looking persona. Liz Hurley is every man's fantasy as the Devil, and Francis O'Connor who is mainly a foil, has some truly great reactive moments every time she's teamed up with Fraser. The supporting cast is also quite a highlight, including the always amazing Orlando Jones, who many of you will remember as one of the best things about the (now crappy) MAD TV. This man is destined to become a major comic star. One of the greats. Eddie, Martin, Chapelle, Orlando. Period.
The bottom-line is that for most of the time, you're laughing in a good way.
This film is very funny during most of the wish sequences, but in between, the material seems to be missing some spark to it (thankfully there are seven wishes), as though they were just hurrying into the next sequence. Hurley's character progression is very erratic, and her motivations make no sense at all by the end of the film. Hurley is stunning to watch, and has a naughty charm and a few "Basic Instinct" outfits to boot, but the interactions with Fraser can veer from funny to downright boring. And the ending, which also features a very ridiculous coincidence, for the love of god, change that whole thing! It's got some continuity issues, but I'm speaking of the film as it is now, now what it will be.
On the bright final note, this is all Brendan Fraser's movie (since he soaks up most of the screen time) and he's damn good in it. Whatever difficulties exist in BEDAZZLED, it's really good. It's Ramis, need I say more.
You can call me WICKER MAN...
