As someone who has spent countless hours delving into the realms of cinematic oddities and underappreciated gems, I can confidently say that the 2000 comedy “Bedazzled” is a hidden gem that deserves a second look. Having grown up in the era of Brendan Fraser‘s dominance in Hollywood, I fondly remember his charisma and comedic timing, which are showcased beautifully in this film.
If the devil offers you seven wishes, use one to make them watch the underrated Brendan Fraser comedy, , which will soon be released for free on Tubi. Loosely based on the 1967 movie of the same name, the 2000 version of Bedazzled stars Elizabeth Hurley as the Devil, who offers a heartbroken Elliot Richards (Fraser) seven wishes in exchange for his soul. Of course, the devil is in the details, and Fraser’s miscalculated wishes lead to a whole host of shenanigans.
In 2000, Bedazzled, directed by Harold Ramis, didn’t fare well critically when it first hit the screens, earning a moderate Rotten Tomatoes rating of 50%. Despite this, critics seemed to appreciate the movie slightly more than audiences, who gave it a somewhat poorer score of 43%. However, over time, contemporary viewers have come to appreciate the film more, recognizing it as the lighthearted, whimsical comedy it was meant to be. Nowadays, reviews on Letterboxd often praise the movie, with an average rating of 3 out of 5 stars.
Regarding the financial aspect, the movie “Bedazzled” saw slightly better returns. Upon debut, it almost doubled its investment, raking in approximately $90 million ($164 million adjusted for inflation) globally compared to a production budget of $48 million. Despite this modest success and some decent box office figures, unfavorable criticisms combined with average reviews dashed any hopes for a follow-up film, sending it downhill alongside Elizabeth Hurley’s portrayal of the devil.
Letterboxd Reacts to Bedazzled
Bedazzled is an utterly outrageous film. As Elliot misuses his wishes in a very ordinary way, the Devil takes advantage of this to cause trouble for him. For instance, when Elliot wants the Devil to make him wealthy and powerful, with Alison (Frances O’Connor) as his wife, he ends up as the boss of a Mexican cartel, where his wife despises him, and his followers are plotting to overthrow him. Or, when Elliot wishes to become a star athlete, the Devil transforms him into a seven-foot-tall basketball player with a low IQ and a diminutive manhood, leading all women to lose interest in him.
In recent years, Brendan Fraser has experienced a remarkable comeback in his acting career. Following a rough patch where he found it hard to secure leading roles after the movie “Furry Vengeance” received negative criticism, Fraser staged an unparalleled return to glory in 2022 when he won an Oscar for Best Actor for his role in Darren Aronofsky’s film “The Whale.” Apart from his work on the big screen, Fraser has been a consistent presence on DC television, lending his voice and occasionally making physical appearances as Cliff Steele, also known as Robotman, in “Doom Patrol.” More recently, Fraser had the honor of working with the legendary Martin Scorsese in the film “Killers of the Flower Moon.
Bedazzled
streams free on Tubi from October 1.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-09-22 17:05