Il diavolo e Max

Title: "The Devil and Max Devlin: A Solid 7/10 of Supernatural Charm"

The Devil and Max Devlin is a beautiful blend of supernatural fun and grounded storytelling. I liked the movie, though it didn't exactly blow my mind-I'm giving it a 7/10 on IMDb. The film manages to be both fanciful and believable, pulling you into its offbeat world without overdoing it.

Bill Cosby delivers a performance that's both funny and just a bit unnerving, perfectly capturing the devilish mischief, while Elliot Gould is, as always, a national treasure with his endearing, down-to-earth presence. Even with its supernatural elements, the story feels refreshingly realistic.

Overall, it's a solid watch with plenty of charm, even if it doesn't send you over the edge.

The really significant part of this movie has nothing to do with the players, but the producers. This is the FIRST ever PG movie released by Disney - after almost 35 years a G-only releases.

I saw this movie as a kid. It had a catchy song - slightly memorable plot and ... well not much else. Not horrible or good. OK.

Sadly, as Disney movies go - you'll notice on the DVD cover - no mention of Disney. Professionals admit their mistakes, are humble in their successes and remain proud about the rest. Walt Disney would have. Eisner doesn't.

Elliott Gould's career slowed down after a string of R-rated films in the 60's and 70's...and came to a screeching halt in 1981. Disney's attempt in the eighties to modernize their films included casting Bill Cosby and Elliott Gould as The Devil and Max Devlin respectively. The plot involves Gould signing up three good souls for the Devil so as to replace his own soul from going down South. In concept, this is basically the flip side of Oh God! (George Burns and John Denver). Bill Cosby probably seemed like a hip if not fair replacement for George Burns (both being beloved stand-ups) but Elliott Gould was too much of a bad boy to be considered sympathetic in any film. The sort of sympathy evoked by John Denver in "Oh God!" Together, Cosby and Gould had no chemistry with little if any comic opportunities. Cosby was not very believable as the Devil and we could care less if Gould spent eternity in Hell. Singer Julie Budd was cast as one of the "good" souls (the in-joke here is that Julie Budd is a look-alike, sound-alike clone of Barbara Streisand and Streisand is the former Mrs. Gould. Of course kids who saw this film in 1981 didn't have a clue who she was...oh heck, most adults didn't know who she was...so why the trouble in casting Julie Budd?) To make things worse she sings one song "Rainbows and Roses" over and over and over and over and over again. Disney turns out more music than any film studio, couldn't they write a few songs for this film? Adam Rich (former "Eight Is Enough" social tragedy) and David Knell round out the trio in appearances that are a notch below a below-average Love Boat guest spot. Susan Anspach ("Montenegro") plays Adam Rich's mom and Gould's love interest and deserves the most sympathy for that alone.

With the past several years and all the bad publicity that has come out about Bill Cosby the fact that he could be cast as an emissary of Satan himself seems less ironic these days. The other half of the title of The Devil And Max Devlin is played by Elliott Gould who is destined for the lower depths after falling into a manhole unless he agrees to get three innocents to pledge their souls.

Where to find innocent souls in 1981 is the question, but in his new guise as a manager/promoter he finds promising singer Julie Budd, a BMX racer David Knell and a little kid Adam Rich with a real pretty mom in Susan Anspach.

I have to tell you that I was a bit uneasy in the scenes involving Gould and Rich. It was like he was stalking as a pedophile would. How Disney Studios were comfortable with that God only knows.

The Devil And Max Devlin has some interesting moments, a few laughs but not quite the hit it could have been. I would have not used the whole business with Adam Rich if I were producing the film

I remember seeing this movie as a kid and loving it. Recently, I watched again as an adult and found it to still be a sweet, charming little movie. The basic plot has Elliot Gould's character signing a pact with the Devil (Bill Cosby)to recruit three good souls and thus saving his own from eternal damnation. Gould gets three young people including an aspiring young singer (Julie Budd)and a fatherless young boy (Adam Rich), to sign a contract with the devil in exchange for making their dreams come true while on Earth. It all works out happily as all Disney films do, but there are several laughs, touching moments, and lesson learned along the way. I was really intrigued by Julie Budd after this film who more than resembled a young Barbra Streisand in both looks and talent. Loved the song that she sang in the film "Any Fool Can See." I wonder what happened to her after this film. Seems she never worked again.