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Bedazzled (Rated PG-13) By Amy Diaz HippoPress.com Elizabeth Hurley proves that models really are evil in Bedazzled, a movie explaining - for those three people who didn't already know - that Faustian bargains never work out well. Elliot Richards (Brendan Fraser) is an over-eager, nerdy schlub who annoys the hell out of his coworkers and is invisible to the girl of his dreams. Considering him easy pickin's, the Devil (Hurley) offers Elliot seven life-altering wishes in exchange for his soul. Elliot signs on and begins a tour through six alternate universes (he uses one wish asking for a Big Mac and Coke) where he has everything he could ask for except the things he really wants. With his first wish, Elliot finds himself rich and powerful and married to his dream girl (Frances O'Connor). The catch is that he is also the head of a Colombian cocaine cartel. All of his wishes carry these be-careful-what-idiot-thing-you-wish-for consequences. Bedazzled is a remake of the 1967 movie of the same name starring Dudley Moore and Peter Cook. I must admit I've never seen that version and so - unlike many a film buff that will probably be distressed by even the idea of a remake - I have nothing against which to measure Bedazzled's merits as a remake. As a brand new movie that I spent five bucks to see, Bedazzled isn't exactly an AMC classic in the making. There has always been something goofy about Fraser that can get irritating if he isn't given enough direction by the story. Hurley vamps it up like a female Austin Powers - perhaps to make up for having to play Mike Meyers's straight man in that movie. Movies like this have a hard time keeping up the funny while allowing the Damned to really feel his impending doom. Bedazzled interjects a little soul-searching, but touches only very lightly on the un-silly part of eternal damnation. Bedazzled has a greasy, salty snack food quality to it. Too much gives you a queasy, vomity feeling. In small servings, however, this Hollywood corn-dog is cellophane treat. One of Fraser's alter-ego's in particular (I won't give away the gag except to say it's one of the wishes in the middle) has a very amusing "the catch." Like many a Hollywood cheese-puff and the occasional presidential candidate, Bedazzled entertains if you lower your exceptions. Expect the movie to suck and you will be pleasantly surprised when it doesn't. Not completely, anyway. Copyright © 2000 HIPPOPRESS LLC. All rights reserved. |
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