Movie #65 - Bedazzled

Bedazzled
Twentieth Century Fox
2000 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 33 min
Director: Harold Ramis
Starring: Elizabeth Hurley, Brendan Fraser, Frances O'Connor, Miriam Shor, Orlando Jones, Paul Adelstein

After three pretty sappy movies in a row, it was nice to break things up with a mindless comedy. In Bedazzled, Brendan Fraser plays a huge loser (teeth-gratingly annoying too) who gets a visit from the Devil, a.k.a. Elizabeth Hurley, who promises him 7 wishes in exchange for his soul. Seriously, hottest person to ever play the devil. And I'm not into that, but yikes. Red leather is her friend. I'm actually a little scared.

Anyway, this movie is exactly what you expect it to be. It's a series of wishes gone horribly wrong. As the viewer, you'll find yourself guessing what the glitch in each seemingly perfect scenario will be. And the script does well to surprise you occassionally with some funny stuff.

For a typical comedy, this movie is a good time. There's nothing exceedingly substantial here to critique, aside from the entertainment value. Brendan Fraser is fun to watch in all the scenarios and does a great job "characterizing" each. Elizabeth Hurley plays a great straightman, with an edge of mischief that will unsettle you just slightly throughout the movie. All around, a good way to spend some time, especially if you don't want to think about anything and you'd rather just laugh (at someone).

Movie #38 - Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
New Line Cinema
1997 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 34 min
Director: Jay Roach
Starring: Mike Myers, Elizabeth Hurley, Michael York, Seth Green, Mimi Rogers

I don't think Austin Powers was used by Mike Myers on the show, but much of this movie feels like an SNL-skit-turned-film. Maybe it's just Mike Myers that makes me say that. But don't get me wrong, I still think it's hysterical.

In this first movie, the jokes were still new, the whole Austin's-60's-style-doesn't-hold-up-in-the-90's thing was kinda funny, and Mike Myers only played two characters. It's mostly pee, fart, and sex jokes, but since he buys into the character so well, it works. Another fun one to pick up and watch again.