Bedazzled (2000 film)

Lore & Background

The film was first reported in April 1997, when Harold Ramis was set to write, direct, and co-produce a remake for 20th Century Fox with the approval of original film director Stanley Donen. In January 1998, Larry Gelbart joined to co-write the script, which would feature a female Devil unlike the original. In November 1999, Brendan Fraser dropped out of The Wedding Planner to play the lead for $10 million, with Fox enthusiastic after working with him on Monkeybone. Elizabeth Hurley and Frances O'Connor joined in January 2000.

The plot centers on Elliot Richards, a sweet, geeky man working a dead-end job in a San Francisco computer company, who harbors a crush on colleague Alison Gardner. After being ditched by co-workers at a bar, he says he would give anything for Alison to be with him. The Devil, in the form of a seductive woman, offers seven wishes in exchange for his soul. Each wish is twisted by the Devil, and after five wishes, Elliot is arrested. A cellmate tells him his soul belongs to God, and Elliot ultimately uses his final wish selflessly—wishing Alison a happy life—which voids the contract. The Devil reveals a fine-print provision that a selfless wish cancels the deal. Elliot gains confidence, asks Alison out (she is already dating another), and later meets a new neighbor, Nicole Delarusso, who resembles Alison but shares his interests. The Devil and the cellmate observe them playing chess.

Reader's Guide

Bedazzled received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 50% approval rating based on 116 reviews, with the consensus calling it 'essentially a one joke movie with too many flat plots.' On Metacritic, it scored 49 out of 100, indicating 'mixed or average' reviews. Michael Wilmington of the Chicago Tribune wrote disappointedly that the film 'recycled is not the finest hour for Fraser or Hurley,' while Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times commented it 'is lacking in wickedness' and that 'Satan loses on points.' Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times stated the film is 'erratic, unfocused and uncertain where it's going.' Despite critical reception, the film did reasonably well at the box office, topping British box office sales ahead of What Lies Beneath and finishing at #2 on its American opening weekend behind Meet the Parents. Elizabeth Hurley's performance was praised, though her attendance at the premiere met backlash from the Screen Actors Guild due to a strike. The film received nominations from the Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild for Best Contemporary Make-Up and Best Contemporary Hair Styling, and Hurley was nominated for Best Dressed at the 2001 MTV Movie Awards. The trailer won the Saul Bass Award for Best Title Sequence at the 2001 Golden Trailer Awards.

Did You Know?

• The film features a female Devil, a departure from the original 1967 film.
• The Devil's computer program analyzes souls to determine individual weaknesses to exploit.
• A selfless wish voids the contract due to a provision in the fine print.

The Faustian Framework and Narrative Arc

The film reimagines the classic Faust legend through a modern comedic lens. Elliot Richards, a lonely and over-zealous computer worker in San Francisco, finds himself isolated—no friends, co-workers who avoid him, and a crush on colleague Alison Gardner he lacks the courage to pursue. After being ditched at a bar, he exclaims he'd give anything for Alison to be with him. The Devil, appearing as a seductive woman, offers seven wishes in exchange for his soul. Each wish is twisted by the Devil, who adds unexpected frustrations. After five wishes, Elliot is arrested for confessing his story to a priest. In a cell, a friendly inmate tells him his soul belongs to God. Rather than use his final wish for himself, Elliot wishes Alison could have a happy life with or without him. A fine-print provision voids the contract for selfless wishes. The Devil reveals that Heaven and Hell are found on Earth, up to humans to choose. Elliot gains confidence, asks Alison out, learns she is dating someone else, wishes her well, and eventually finds a new neighbor whose appearance resembles Alison but whose personality matches his own.

Production Choices and Casting Decisions

The project was set in motion in April 1997 when Harold Ramis was reported to write, direct, and co-produce the remake for 20th Century Fox, with approval from Stanley Donen, who jointly owned the rights. A key creative departure from the 1967 original was the decision to cast the Devil as a woman. Larry Gelbart joined in January 1998 to co-write the script. The casting of Brendan Fraser proved a significant event: in November 1999, he dropped out of The Wedding Planner to take the lead role for a reported $10 million salary, with Fox eager to work with him again following their collaboration on Monkeybone. Elizabeth Hurley and Frances O'Connor joined as co-stars in January 2000. The film was released by 20th Century Fox on October 20, 2000 in the United States and January 18, 2001 in Germany.

Critical Reception and Box Office Performance

Bedazzled earned mixed critical responses. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 50% approval rating based on 116 reviews with an average score of 5.5 out of 10. The site's consensus notes that while the film has funny moments, it functions essentially as a one-joke movie with flat plots and falls short of the superior original. Metacritic gave it a 49 out of 100 based on 34 critics, signaling mixed or average reception. Elizabeth Hurley's performance drew praise, though her attendance at the premiere sparked backlash from the Screen Actors Guild, as it coincided with a strike they were holding. At the box office, the film performed reasonably well, grossing $90.3 million against a $48 million budget. It topped British box office sales ahead of What Lies Beneath during its November 10, 2000 UK debut weekend, and finished second on its American opening weekend behind the surprise hit Meet the Parents.

The Devil's Dual Nature and Philosophical Core

The film uses the Devil as both antagonist and a complex, almost sympathetic figure. She runs a computer simulation to analyze souls and identify weaknesses to exploit, settling on Elliot as a target. Her office is based at a nightclub in Oakland, and she manipulates each wish by adding unexpected elements. Yet the narrative complicates her role: in the cell scene, she tells Elliot she likes him and that it would not hurt to have her as a friend. Elliot himself admits he has come to like her despite her manipulation. The film's philosophical core rests on the cellmate's assertion that the soul belongs to God and that the Devil may confuse but cannot ultimately change one's purpose. The Devil's final revelation—that Heaven and Hell exist on Earth and are up to humans to choose—reframes the entire bargain as a test of self-knowledge. In the closing scene, the Devil and the cellmate, both dressed in white, observe Elliot and his new partner playing chess, while her computer program lists their foibles, which they tolerate.