Liz Hurley is possibly the worst actress I have ever had the misfortune to watch act, why she is not a regular on the late night trash on Channel 5, that passes for films, is beyond me. Wooden is a word that is too good for her ‘skill’ and this film is simply an addition to a career of terrible performances. OK she might be pretty stunning but she far too fake and her acting ability makes her ridiculous.

Now I’ve got that out of my system its time to review the film. Bedazzled is a remake if a strange film from the sixties, of the same name, which was written by comic geniuses Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. The remake centres upon hopeless geek Elliot (Fraser) who is ridiculed and disliked by his work mates and is an unknown loser to the girl of his dreams, Alison (McDormand, far sexier than Hurley by the way). Enter the Devil (played by Hurley…of course) who grants Elliot 7 wishes in return for his soul, and he excepts, well you probably would, wouldn’t you? All his wishes centre upon Alison, but as you would expect they don’t go as he plans, meaning six oh so hilarious situations (sarcasm alert) such as being a Colombian Drug Baron, an inadequate basketball player and Abraham Lincoln.

The original was not a comical masterpiece, to say the least, and why it’s been remade is completely beyond me. Remakes hardly ever surpass the first film, look at The Vanishing, The Assassin and Psycho for proof that they are generally very poor movies. Very few are actually better, Invasion of the Body Snatchers to name one, and this film proves that there is rarely a need to update a film. The only real highlight is the performance of Brendan Fraser as Elliot as the geek who gets his dreams to come to true, he is both sad and annoying, but makes you feel sorry for him at the same time. In the same turn he puts in a strong comic performance that is unfortunately blighted by a poor script and a terrible leading 'actress'.

Bedazzled is not a film I would highly recommend for a Saturday barrel o’ laughs, it lacks any genuine comic moments, which is obviously a major fault for a comedy. Fraser is the only is the only positive thing to be taken from the movie, after his turn in The Mummy, he is proving to be a versatile mainstream actor. However it really would be better to avoid this film.

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