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63 of 66 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cook and Moore: an Abbott and Costello for brainiacs., December 14, 2000
Peter Cook and Dudley Moore are my all-time favorite comedy team. Arising from the "Beyond the Fringe" troupe of the 1950s, they went on to create some of the wittiest comedy routines of the 1960s. Taking off brilliantly on traditional British class divisions, they resembled an Abbott and Costello for members of Mensa, with Cook's sarcastic, sneering upper-class snob scoring endless points off Moore's sweet, hapless working-class schlemiel. Unfortunately, they never found a good screen vehicle for their comic personae--except for Bedazzled, directed by Stanley Donen from Cook's screenplay. Moore plays a short-order cook on the verge of suicide because of unrequited love; up pops the Devil, played by Cook, who offers Moore seven chances at the girl of his dreams in exchange for his soul. Of course, the Devil being the Devil (and Cook being Cook), he can't resist skewing each chance just a tiny bit...The film is a screamingly funny yet cohesive string of bits as Cook spoils each of Moore's attempts at happiness. The physical humor (wait till you see the nuns on trampolines) is every bit as wonderful as the verbal barbs (wait till you hear Cook explain how Mussolini's soul eluded his grasp). For those who are sufficiently attentive, there is also much witty and pointed discussion of traditional Christian theology and ethics. Eleanor Bron (as the girl of Moore's dreams) and Raquel Welch (as the living embodiment of Lust) are delicious in more ways than one. Stanley Donen, no stranger to directing films based on tricky screenplays, does full justice to Cook's mordant, wildly imaginative vision. Cook's career floundered in the 70s after the duo split up, and Moore's solo stardom sagged after a few early successes. Now that Cook is dead, far too young, and Moore is desperately ill, we can be grateful for Bedazzled and mourn that it had no successors.
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42 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
terrific classic doesn't need to be re-made!, July 23, 2000
I first saw this film my first semester in college... in English 101 of all places! After reading the Goethe's "Faust," we were treated to this drop-dead, split your sides open comedy.Dudley Moore is perfect as the bumbling, broken-hearted bafoon, Stanley Moon. Peter Cook is the evil, but somehow still loveable George Spiggot aka the Devil. Raquel Welch plays a small cameo role as "Lust," one of the seven deadly sins personified. Moon (Moore) is lovelorn and secretly pining away for the waitress he works with at the local "Wimpy Burger" in London. When Moore realizes that the girl he desires will never notice him, he attempts to take his life and is rescued by none other than the Prince of Darkness. Moore agrees to sign over his soul to Spiggot in return for 7 wishes. The poor sap just isn't street smart enough and constantly wishes for something he either didn't intend to wish for or worse, a wish he hadn't really thought out properly and thoroughly... exacerbating the meaning of the phrase, "be careful what you wish for... you might just get it!" Cook does an exemplary job as the wolf in sheeps clothing. Spiggot gains Moon's confidence by being kind to him... despite his alterior motives, it is probably the first time anyone has been kind to Moon in his whole life and the Devil exploits this to the fullest measure. Lack of street-smarts gets moon in one hilarious pickle after another. I can't say much more without ruining the plot and the hilarity, but suffice to say, you'll never hear "Julie Andrews" the same way again. I highly recommend this as a clever comedy... and one that's safe to show to teens.
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25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bedazzled: An Essential Film, February 7, 2000
Bedazzled is a black comedy based on the Faustian legend. A restaurant cook(Dudley Moore) makes a deal with the devil (Peter Cook) in exchange for the love of a woman.Classic and unforgettable,this important film has been unavailable for some time.You'll see Dudley Moore's character as an animated fly,as well as a cigar-chomping nun who lusts for Racquel Welch- in an early role as a stripper! The devil gives Dudley wishes in exchange for his soul, but adds hilariously unexpected twists for his own warped amusement.Dudley can only escape his wishes by "blowing raspberries" and uttering the phrase "Julie Andrews! " An excellant cast, an inspired director (Stanley Donen), and a hilariously unique script make this the best film of its genre.A good time will be had by all, and an important lesson will be learned by all who see this timeless masterpiece of irreverence and the triumph of good over evil. It is a travesty that such a classic film is unavailable when so many thoughtless and gratuitious films of this type are being made and sold. This is the film to judge all other Faustian comedies by, and to date, it has no equal.
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