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Shortcut to Happiness (2003)
"The Devil and Daniel Webster" (original title)

5.5
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Ratings: 5.5/10 from 2,975 users  
Reviews: 26 user | 13 critic

A down-and-out writer sells his soul to the devil in exchange for fame and fortune.

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Title: Shortcut to Happiness (2003)

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Virl Andrick ...
...
Ray Aranha ...
Mailman
...
Kaniel Arocho ...
Skateboard Kid #1
...
Jorge Arocho ...
Skateboard Kid #2
...
Julius Jensen
...
Production Assistant (as Mary Ashton)
...
Howard Atlee ...
Award Audience Man
...
Rick Fusco
...
Cop
...
Herself
Antoni Cornacchione ...
Security Guard
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Storyline

In Manhattan, the aspirant writer Jabez Stone is a complete loser: he is not able to sell his novels, he lives in a lousy apartment and he does not have success with women. When one of his friends Julius Jenson sells his novel for US$ 190,000.00 to an editor, Jabez fells envy and promises to sell his soul to the devil for success and accidentally kills a woman with his typing machine. The Devil knocks on his door, fixes the situation and seals a contract with Jabez. His low quality novels have bad reviews but become best-sellers; Jabez enriches; has success with women, but has no time for his friends. Jabez meets with the publisher Daniel Webster who offers him a chance to break the contract with the devil. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

the devil is in the details.

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language and sexual content | See all certifications »
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Details

Official Sites:

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

17 August 2007 (Kazakhstan)  »

Also Known As:

Shortcut to Happiness  »

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Filming was completed in 2001 but the movie has been shelved for several years due to lack of funds to complete post-production. However, My Own Worst Enemy Productions acquired the rights to the title and is set to release it in 2007. See more »

Goofs

While showing Jabez his new apartment, the Realtor says Irving Berlin wrote "White Christmas" there. In fact, the song was written while sitting at the pool at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Arizona in 1940. See more »

Quotes

Daniel Webster: Mr. Stone. Man of the hour. You're quite a success.
Jabez Stone: Thank you.
Daniel Webster: It wasn't meant as a compliment.
See more »

Connections

References The Devil and Daniel Mouse (1978) See more »

Soundtracks

"Living Large"
Written and Performed by Larry Brown (as Lawrence H. Brown)
Courtesy of 440 Incorporated
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Mixing amateurs with pros
16 November 2009 | by (New York, U.S.) – See all my reviews

This movie was fun but Jennifer Love Hewitt was so utterly miscast. She's fine for some light TV but she's not a powerful enough actress to play in an ensemble of this caliber. Everyone in it, Kim Catrall, Hopkins, Rubin, Akroyd, and even Baldwin himself are quite wonderful but Ms. Hewitt throws the balance. She's the thing that spoils the movie; especially her delivery of the last "closing argument" monologue belongs in some kind of first year acting class. The movie is a bit moralistic and sentimental and in my opinion it does not live up to the actual story of The Devil and Daniel Webster which is, in many ways more subtle than how Baldwin had handled it. He's gone for a more commercial treatment of a concept whose sophistication could have been just as entertaining. All in all, it's a fun little piece thought some of the sets, the editing as well as the casting of Hewitt should have been rethought. Baldwin is a decent enough director; keeps the film moving and definitely gives the characters good arcs.


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