She-Devil - La Diable

I liked this film. It's a dark comedy about revenge. Apparently it was a star vehicle for Roseanne, and I thought she performed well enough. Meryl Streep really sank her teeth into this role, probably a lot of fun for her, after so many tragic, accented heroines. True, the special(??!!) effects shot of Roseanne walking away from the exploding house was awful, but it was so bad that I wonder if it might have been intentional. If so, I can't understand why, though. One gaping plot hole. Ed Begley, Jr. As an average-looking guy (OK, below average-looking) I can tell you that Begley is not the sort of man that the Meryl Streeps/Mary Fishers of the world fall for on first meeting. Anyway the film is cute. Not great by any means, but worth a viewing.

...a campy, soapy, over-the-top black comedy. This movie wasn't intended to win any awards, so I don't understand all the hate. It isn't a movie I seek out to watch, but if it happens to be on I don't change the channel, and always have a good time. I saw it when it first came out (as a young teenager) and have seen it several times over the years.

It was perfectly cast with one exception: Ed Begley, Jr as the desirable ladies' man/philandering husband. It's not that he is a *bad* looking guy, but the film may have been a bit more believable if there was someone with more sex appeal in the role. The movie explains the reason he married Ruth (Roseanne Barr) - he got her pregnant, and his parents insisted he marry her. I know plenty of very attractive guys who have hooked up with women far less attractive than they (the term "beer goggles" exists for a reason), so they could have made his character more physically attractive and maintained believability. No actors specifically come to mind, and I will say that Begley, Jr played his role very well in terms of his acting. He also has a decent bod, so there's that.

It was entertaining to see the metamorphisis of Ruth - the dowdy and frumpy housewife (with a horrific facial mole) becomes a well put together and successful business woman. While her agenda was clearly self-serving, she did improve the lives of a lot of women along the way (including her nemesis). I thought Barr played her role very well, and actually looked attractive and stylish after she changed her image (and lost the dreadful mole).

Now let's talk about the highlight of the movie (to me): MERYL STREEP! For those criticizing her acting - did we watch the same film? She was brilliant as the pompous, tacky, selfish, yet glamorous romance novelist. When you think about the lines her character was given in the script, it is dumbfounding what she did with that role. She can take the most basic line of dialogue and somehow turn it into something magical. She says it all without even having to speak. She was hilarious and perfect in this movie, and I think it's safe to say that it wouldn't be nearly as good without her.

So, if you are looking for same campy and over-the-top 80s fun, give it a try.

7.5/10.

She-Devil was trumped-up as Roseanne Barr's movie debut!In just a few years our favorite chubby housewife rose from being a stand-up comic performing in bars to having her own TV series and at last co-starring in a major motion picture with the immortal Meryl Streep!The movie itself is rather silly and farfetched!Roseanne is essentially playing herself as a put-apon housewife! But the real surprise is Meryl Streep! She delivers a searing,self-mocking performance as narcissisitic romance novelist Mary Fisher.She plays this role flawlessly!! As a prissy,bluenose diva she reacts hilariously to every twist and turn of the movie's silly storyline!Actually mocking every role she's played before!Roseanne holds her own nicely-but it would't have been possible without Meryl Streep!!

Meryl Streep sparkles in this critically-drubbed adaptation of Fay Weldon's book (previously filmed as a mini-series for British television). Streep plays a Barbara Cartland-like romance novelist who steals the accountant-husband of put-upon housewife Roseanne Barr, who methodically extracts revenge on her spouse and the coolly conniving authoress. Shapeless, rather bedraggled comedy, but Roseanne (to her credit) performs in a lower key here than on television and has a few affecting moments. Streep is a colorful villainess (no surprise), while Sylvia Miles and Linda Hunt do lively work in supporting roles before vanishing once the script no longer has use for them. The one casting mistake is Ed Begley Jr. As Roseanne's cheating husband; Begley gives a good performance, but he and Streep look too much alike (they could be siblings). The movie is episodic and tiresome, but is nearly worth-seeing for Streep's Golden Globe-nominated work; she's deliciously devilish. ** from ****

I will admit from the outset that I have a soft spot for the trio of Seidelman films made in the mid-80's and early 90's-- Desperately Seeking Susan, Making Mr. Right, and this film. There is something playful and quite outrageous about all three of the aforementioned movies with She Devil being the funniest due to great performances by the entire cast, even Roseanne Barr. Although this movie was disregarded by most critics and ignored at the box office, it is truly a funny film with its cartoon-like situations and over-the-top characters. Regardless of what everyone says, check out this film, especially when you find yourself in the mood for a cute and campy movie that is reminiscent of some of the great comedies of the 80's, such as Ruthless People.