Bedazzled (2000)

Hopeless dweeb Elliot Richards is granted 7 wishes by the devil to snare Allison, the girl of his dreams, in exchange for his soul.

Director:

Harold Ramis

Writers:

Peter Cook, Peter Cook,

Stars:

Brendan Fraser, Elizabeth Hurley, Frances O'Connor

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brendan Fraser	...	Elliot Richards / Jefe / Mary
Elizabeth Hurley	...	The Devil
Frances O'Connor	...	Alison Gardner / Nicole Delarusso
Miriam Shor	...	Carol / Penthouse Hostess
Orlando Jones	...	Daniel / Dan / Danny / Esteban / Beach Jock / Lamar Garrett / Dr. Ngegitigegitibaba
Paul Adelstein	...	Bob / Roberto / Beach Jock / Bob Bob (Sportscaster #3)
Toby Huss	...	Jerry / Alejandro / Beach Jock / Jerry Turner (Sportscaster #2) / Lance
Gabriel Casseus	...	Elliot's Cellmate / Angel
Brian Doyle-Murray	...	Priest
Jeff Doucette	...	Desk Sergeant
Aaron Lustig	...	Synedyne Supervisor
Rudolf Martin	...	Raoul
Julian Firth	...	John Wilkes Booth
Iain Rogerson	...	Play Actor
Biddy Hodson	...	Play Actor

Storyline

Elliot Richardson, suicidal techno geek, is given seven wishes to turn his life around when he meets up with a very seductive Satan. The catch: his soul. Some of his wishes include a 7 foot basketball star, a rock star, and a hamburger. But, as could be expected, the Devil must put her own little twist on each his fantasies.

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Plot Keywords:

soul | devil | dream | basketball | contract | 

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Taglines:

You've got seven wishes. Choose carefully.

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sex-related humor, language and some drug content

Details

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English Spanish Russian

Release Date:

20 October 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Al diablo con el diablo

Filming Locations:

St. Vincent Catholic Church - 621 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$48,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£1,112,178 (UK) (10 November 2000)

Gross:

ESP 753,058,188 (Spain) (29 June 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Regency Enterprises, KirchMedia

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The math homework that The Devil erases from the blackboard when she is the schoolteacher is Fermat's Last Theorem - Solve for n>2, x^n + y^n = z^n. It was an extremely difficult mathematical problem that was only proved conclusively in the early 1990s, after four hundred years of it stumping the most brilliant mathematical minds in the world. In fact, the theorem states that this equation does not have any solutions. Fermat originally described it in a margin too small to contain his alleged proof. Andrew Wiles did prove it using elliptic curves, a fairly modern mathematical technique.

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Goofs

When Elliot jumps onto the helicopter to escape and the shot pans with the arm wrapped around the bottom rails, the camera under the helicopter is clearly visible.

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Quotes

The Devil: I wasn't kidding when I said I liked you. I do Elliot. I think you have massive potential. If you're looking at an eternity in hell, let me tell you, it wouldn't hurt to have a friend like me.
[kisses his ear]

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Connections

Referenced in Andy Hamilton's Search for Satan (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Bem, Bem, Maria"
Performed by Gipsy Kings
Written by Jacques Baliardo, Diego Baliardo (as Maurice Baliardo), Tonino Baliardo,
Jahloul Douchikhi, Andre Reyes, Nicolas Reyes and Paul Reyes
Courtesy of Nonesuch Records
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products
PEM/SINE a division of Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.

User Reviews

How unusual - a comedy that's funny.

Wealth. Power. Admiration. They all sound pretty enticing. Indeed many people spend their life in pursuit of these or similar goals and are willing to sacrifice anything and everything in the process. But what if there was an easy way to do it, say, selling your soul? You're not really using it anyways .As the saying goes, the day I decided to do it there'd probably be a glut on the market.

Elliot Richards is, for lack of a better word, a dork. Relegated to the most dreaded of worker hells - tech support - he is a social pariah. Mocked by his colleagues, he spends his time trying to be cool and is hopelessly in love with one of his co-workers who doesn't even know that he exists. While lamenting his lot in life he casually mentions that he would give anything to have his beloved Allison. Enter the Princess of Darkness, stage left.

Although the basics between this movie and the 1967 classic of the same name are similar, there are so many differences (styles of humor, characters, plot, etc) that comparisons are pointless. So I won't even try. Bedazzled offers something so few comedies do these days - laughs, and lots or them, without relying on endless juvenile scatological gags. I thoroughly enjoyed the physical transformations that Elliot, Allison, and his cohorts undergo (several of which are amazing) each time he makes a wish. The spins on the wishes are especially amusing: for example, when Elliot wishes for power and wealth, he fails to take consider the how, and wakes up as a cuckolded Colombian drug lord whose kingdom is quickly collapsing around him. Elliot soon discovers that when dealing with the devil - surprise, surprise - nothing is, as it seems.

I have liked Brendan Fraser since his role in "Encino Man". Since then, he has proven himself capable of doing both schtick ("The Mummy") and serious roles ("Gods and Monsters"). With this part he shows just how versatile he is: rather than one role, he takes on seven, and does so admirably (I particularly enjoyed sensitive guy - I was laughing so hard my side hurt). Elizabeth Hurley is deliciously wicked in a role that she was born to play (if reports about her are true.) and it appears that she enjoyed herself. Her spin on the ultimate temptress is hilarious and personally, I'll take leather-clad vixens over slimy snakes any day. Francis O'Connor, brings the same verve and versatility to Allison that she displayed in "Mansfield Park", although here she is less subdued. The supporting cast provides the finishing touch rounding out the film nicely.

Although it didn't dazzle me, I was greatly amused.