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Is
there no originality left in Hollywood? Here is another
remake of a film which wasn't very good when it was made
first time around.
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| If
that's hell I'm getting out of here |
After
all, would you go and see a movie starring Dudley Moore,
Peter Cook and Eleanor Bron?
Made
in 1967 the original Bedazzled is now only likely
to grace Saturday matinee television audiences. The remake
will be lucky to achieve that sort of fame.
Liz
Hurley replaces Peter Cook as the Devil. While she might
look better than the late comic, acting has never been
her strong point. Given the script she has to work with
she was on a loser from the start.
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| And
don't you dare wish for Hugh Grant |
Maybe
I'm being too harsh. The film actually begins well. Elliot
Richards (Brendan Fraser) is a bit of a Mr. Sad. He's
the man everyone at work tries to avoid.
So
what chance has he got of winning the girl of his desires?
A devil of a chance it turns out. Satan arrives in the
form of Ms. Hurley who grants Richards seven wishes to
achieve his dreams.
There's
a catch of course. He has to give her his soul. The Devil,
being the Devil, also provides a loose interpretation
of Richards wishes.
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| "High
fives.""No thanks." |
Thus
he's transformed into a drugs baron, a sensitive man who
burst into tears at a sunset and a basketball star who's
a giant of a man in most departments but not beneath his
shorts.
The
first half of Bedazzled has plenty of funny moments.
Brendan Fraser (star of The Mummy) proves his versatility
as an actor.
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| When
I said I wanted to be a BIG star I meant big in every
department |
Suddenly,
however, the film melts into sentimental mush and before
you know it the end credits are rolling.
It's
rather like that creative story you had to write in English
- great initial idea but then you run out of steam and
the tale suddenly ends "...and then I woke up. It
had all been a dream."
Similarly,
Bedazzled sparkles briefly then fizzles out to
leave the viewer deflated.
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