User reviews

I thought She-Devil was going to be incredibly stupid, but sometimes having low expectations is the best way to be pleasantly surprised by a movie. It was actually pretty funny, and just like the quirky comedy Death Becomes Her, it was fun to see Meryl Streep letting her hair down and having fun with something light.

Rosanne Barr starts the movie married to Ed Begley, Jr., but when his head gets turned by the famous, glamorous romance novelist Meryl Streep, she loses him. There's always trouble in paradise, and Meryl soon finds that out after she steals Ed away. While she was once known for her novels that swept female readers off to exotic locales, once she becomes more domestic, she changes her writing style. In her new book, Meryl writes of a housewife who fills her day with laundry and cleaning, and her sales take a quick nosedive. Meanwhile, Rosanne isn't ready to take her abandonment lying down, and she plots a revenge scheme that will make both of them sorry they ever met.

If you've ever been a wronged woman, gather up a bunch of girlfriends and pour the cocktails. This one's fun, soapy, and fluffy!

...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.

I always liked watching this movie on tv when I was growing up. Just rewatched it and I still find it to be a damn good time. If you're disgusted by Roseanne (like so many reviewers are) then don't watch a movie that stars Roseanne. It's funny, quirky, a bit dark, and bizarre. I also get flashback fashion love when I watch movies like this.

Reading the comments for this film, two aspects appear as the concentration to the films perceived flaws. The one is a lack of sympathy for Roseanne's character, Ruth. The other is a lack of appreciation for Meryl Streep's performance. Having watched this film many times since it's release, I think I can safely dispute this argument.

This film certainly I feel has all the markings of a cult favorite. It's dark humor, over charged performances as well as the overall look and feel wedges it someplace between "Heathers" and "Ruthless People". More on the nuances that I feel set this film apart from others later, but lets first deal with the Roseann/Streep problem.

Quite frankly, I see no problem. Meryl Streep's Mary Fisher is one of the screens funniest inventions. It seems quite clear to me that she enjoyed playing this role because there is no other way such a wonderful performance could have been created. On a number of occasions, there are lengthy shots with no change of camera where she drives through a range of hilarious emotions. How she handles a scene involving a dog licking her feet while she awakes is tremendous. I feel it is one of her strongest performances; she never turns it off, and always delivers it in the correct dosage.

The issue with Roseanne's character, Ruth, is she is seen as manipulative, uncaring, a monster hell bent on revenge. Ruth, like everything else in this picture is a caricature. This is very much the sort of role we would expect from Roseanne, the domestic goddess taking it all a step further. True, she does wallow in a mean spirited negativity, but it results in a positive outcome for nearly all involved. She takes control of her life and liberates Linda Hunts Nurse Hopper as well as countless women through her Vespa Rose Employment Agency. She returns life to the geriatrics in her care at a nursing home. As a result of Ruth's revenge, Mary Fisher at last becomes recognized as the serious writer she wished to from the start. We even know that Begley's Bob Patchett gets his comeuppance, and accepts it with grace and humility.

There are dozens of touches brought here which make this a movie so enjoyable to watch. Firstly, there is the remarkable physical change in many of the characters as the story progresses. Roseanne goes from looking like a reject from a freak show to a rather zaftig Joan Collins. Linda Hunt and Sylvia Miles likewise transform, and Streep goes from a pink, frosted confection of a romance novelist, to a black turtle necked, bespectacled writer with a gift for the "post modern metaphor". A certain tone is set when the establishing shot of Mary Fisher "pink palace by the sea" reveals her initials, M F, emblazoned on the massive gate. Streep is given countless occasions to do great business for the camera, as in a scene where her complete lack of comprehension in doing laundry leads her to put half a gallon of bleach and several dryer sheets in a washing machine. Best of all, she manages to give the finger to the "serious critics" while on the Sally Jesse Raphale Show. I honestly don't feel this film is as bad as many would like one to think. If you sit back, and let it unfold as I believe it was intended to, you will find a clever picture that has just the correct amount of overarched villainy and cynicism as many of our favorite black comedies.

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.

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 ****

So cool that Rosanne's name in the movie was RUTH! Do you know what that means --- the common noun "ruth"?

I thought this movie was really funny. Not a great, mind you. Not a classic. I am not lamenting the fact that it got no Oscars. But I am deploring its abysmally low rating on imdb. I just don't get it.

She-Devil wasn't a simply a comedy as used to think, it's more than that, it maybe is a "black Humor" comedy, showing a human nature acting in our advantages in their small world, lies, betrayal, revenge, build carefully to delight us a upcoming propper revenge driven to unscrupulous couple of lovers.

Interesting how the whole thing fits together almost perfectly, Roseanne Barr was the high point, underlying rationale of the picture, Meryl Streep has an usual performance as an ambitious woman, Ed Begley Jr. Never convinced anyone, an enjoyable black humor oriented.

Resume:

First watch: 1994 / How many: 2 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 7.

"Ruth Patchett" (Roseanne Barr) is not a pretty woman. And although that may sound rather harsh this fact is quite evident. Realizing this she does her best to please her husband "Bob Patchett" (Ed Begley Jr.) by trying to appear as presentable as she can while taking care of their two children "Nicolette" (Elisebeth Peters) and "Andy" (Bryan Larkin). So when she is told by Bob that there is a lavish party being held in New York City she extremely excited to go with him. Unfortunately, it's at this party that Bob meets an attractive novelist by the name of "Mary Fisher" (Meryl Streep) who immediately falls head over heels in love with him. Soon the two of them begin to have an affair and it's only a matter of time before Ruth gets suspicious-and neither Bob nor Mary are prepared for what happens next. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this comedy started off relatively well but slowed down somewhat after the first 30 minutes or so. To that extent, although Roseanne Barr did quite well, I was a little disappointed with the performances of both Ed Begley Jr. and Meryl Streep who lacked the necessary chemistry for their roles. But that is just my opinion. In any case, while I don't consider this to be an outstanding comedy by any means, it was sufficient for the time spent and I have rated it accordingly. Average.

This movie is not serious at all. That's the funniest part!

This movie is absolutely among my comedy favorites. Perhaps it was a bit ahead of it's time, I think - everyone should take a look at it again and have a laugh.

As a European I must say that it is ever so refreshing with a movie with such a black humor to it. The fact that everything is over the top makes it not less attractive, but brings the so-called "authenticity" of this story to an extend of fun, fun, fun. It is beyond "real" - it is there to amuse you and so it does. This movie is sarcastic, even to itself and indeed to the Fay Weldon novel that lies behind it.

Roseanne stars in her very best role ever as the ugly and poor Ruth Patchett who reveals herself as a superheroine in the vengeance department. To cast Roseanne in this role is a brilliant idea. She is obviously not afraid of being the most repulsive woman ever seen on video, and that only contributes to the laughs as she turns from the bearded lady into a business woman with a hard grip on her own destiny. Roseanne has always been accused of being a bad actress. I am not saying that she is a good one, but perhaps the character Ruth has a lot of Roseanne inside her - because her work here is in any way magnificent.

Meryl Streep on the other hand is absolutely faboulos. She has tried a few time to enter the world of comedy, most notably with the bizarre "Death Becones Her", but this might be her very best try in the genre. As the pink queen of romance, the Barbara Cartland of her generation, you might add, she sparkles with hysteria and selfconsciousness. Her Mary Fisher does make one of the funniest breakdowns as her "Love in the Rinse Cycle" fails as well as her relationship with Robert Patchett, Ruth's husband. Streep has the elegance that it takes to be - well, pink - but she is not afraid of tearing it down and plays the role with much physical courage.

Academy Award Winner Linda Hunt as always also makes a great appearance as Ruth's partner-in-crime Nurse Hooper. Along with Roseanne and Meryl Streep she benefits from her physical appearance, and all three of them changes as women in a very convincing way. For Linda Hunt, cookies does the trick, and her change from dry, bitter and hardworking to giggling business woman is very amusing indeed.

Finally I must say that the cinematography and editing of this movie is outstanding, as well as the musical contribution, e.g. the opening titles and the introduction of Ruth - it sure does follow the general irony of the story in a great way. Along with the extremely well-put dialogue this movie simply is - hilarious.

Susan Seidelman's "She Devil" is a comedy that works on a simple but efficient formula: opposition. The opening credits consists on a delicate and feminine music, a Santa Barbara- like cursive writing, and several shots of glamorous women putting on some make-up, lipstick or perfume, like in these corny cosmetic ads, so typical of the 80's. In fact, the whole intro is so cliché that we expect a punch-line. And rightfully, we get one when emerges the face of Rita, Roseanne Barr as the unpleasant, plump, average-looking and (not yet) desperate housewife, the soon-to-be She-Devil.

Roseanne Barr, whose breakthrough role in "Roseanne" had already launched her career; has never been considered a beautiful woman, yet she still pushes herself to the most atrocious physical limits by adding a big mole on her upper lip. It takes some great deal of courage to abuse one's own image, but it's essential to recreate the perfect contrast with Meryl Streep, who incarnates Rita's nemesis, a rich "roman rose" writer, beautiful, blonde, distinguished and literate, a caricature in all pinkness and sophistication. The film is often credited for featuring the first comedic role of the ultimate drama actress. Is she good? Delightfully: Streep's capability to caricature herself and play a woman who takes herself so seriously almost works like a refreshing self-derision, deserving the Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy.

The opposition between Rita and Mary is the core of the story; the whole narrative depends on our empathy toward the ugly duckling and our sadistic delight to see the beautiful princess' life falls apart. Oddly enough, Mary and Rita hardly interact. The intercessor is Bob, Rita's unfaithful husband played by Ed Begley Jr., probably the only actor whose hair can compete with Meryl Streep's. With his tall and athletic body and his elegant demeanor, it's a wonder how he and Rita ended up together. When Mary finds out he's married, "it's too bad" she says, to which he replies "it's too late": not to have some sex though. Indeed, after Rita dropped some drink on Mary's pink dress, he apologetically suggests driving her home. What did Rota expect?

Still, although she suspects Bob to be screwing around, she gives him the benefit of the doubt. It's not until a disastrous dinner in front of her stepparents that Bob can't take it anymore and leaves the house. He then delivers the film's pivotal rant, against his wife. Rita remains silent, contemplating the failure of her own marriage while Bob lists the four assets he most valued: a house, a family, a career and freedom. Not part of them, Rita decides to destroy these sacred pillars one by one. At least, she'd deserve to be called a "liability", and worse, a "she-devil". The film turns into a delightful revenge comedy, working like a missing link between two movies of the same year : "Look Who's Talking" and "The War of the Roses".

Like "Look Who's Talking", "She Devil" is a sweet and entertaining family comedy appealing to a younger audience while the main target are adults; it has its share of goofiness and physical humor, but under the surface, there is a lot of wit and sensitivity. I guess it's not a coincidence that both movies were released by women, which might explain the choice of tone, apparently sweet enough to hide a good amount of bitterness, like a frail and fragile woman hiding a burning flame inside her heart, like all the everyday heroines of Rita's employment center. And the film works thanks to this distance, this capability to turn every situation into something both insightful and comical, it's almost like a trick so the movie could win men's hearts despite its feminist undertones.

Take the scene where Rita, who had just destroyed the house, sends the kids to Mary's house, to break up her idyllic routine with Bob. This is one of the movies' funniest and smartest moves: while many mothers would have played the "victim" card and console themselves by keeping the kids (which any cheating husband would expect), Rita doesn't lament on herself, and just reverse the roles between the mistress and the housewife. With more free time, she works as a nurse in a hospice where she teams up with Hooper (Linda Hunt) another woman touched by an ungrateful looks. Then, she manages to get Mary's mother (Sylvia Miles) off the house. The mother is another scene-stealer, finishing the mayhem started by the kids, and ruining all the facade Mary built during her successful career, starting with her age.

And the marital conflict, the whole love-and-hate relationship between Bob and Rita reminds of "The War of the Roses", a superior masterpiece of Black humor starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. "She Devil", with a bit of schmaltz's, is as politically incorrect and even flirts with very borderline humor, having a luscious butler (played by A. Martinez) flirting with Rita's teenage daughter and some implicit sex scenes … the film assumes some crudeness even though it tries to sugarcoat it. And while we empathize with Rita's feminist career, it's impossible not to resist to Ed Begley as the victim. Yet we know we're watching a slow but possible redemption. The same goes for Mary Fisher who learns not to take her success for granted and tries to change.

This is what elevates the film above the basic standards of comedy: its characters play like archetypes, but they do change for the best. The ending has something very inspirational: the looks on Roseanne while she walks and smiles surrounded by an army of female underdogs during the "You Look Like an Angel" song is almost beautiful. And then we understand why she had to be so 'ugly' at the start, less for the contrast with Streep than with herself at the end, which is even more satisfying.

She might have looked like a devil, but she was an angel in disguise.

This one could have worked very well as a black comedy, but the result is too disappointing. It's too predictable; I expected much more from the plot, for example I expected that Barr's character would be much more devious / devilish / mean! I think it would be better if it contained even some gore! Anyway, both Streep and Barr are quite fun to watch (certainly the only reason to watch this film), whilst the rest of the cast just... seems misplaced. I hardly laughed and I would not recommend it for anything but a couple of funny scenes.

4

My goodness, all the negativity about this fun and strangely satisfying flick. Everyone I know really likes this movie and has seen it several times. If we can define how good a film is by how many times we're capable of seeing it, then this movie certainly is praise worthy. I also enjoyed Roseanne's performance every bit as Meryl Streep. And why can't people believe that an actress of Ms. Streep's caliber took on this role? She was wonderful and got to demonstrate a great comedic performance. This movie is just plain fun. If you watch it once, I guarantee you'll watch it again and again.

Welcome to another edition of Adam's Reviews!! **queue in intro music**

Today's movie review is the revenge comedy She-Devil (1989) starring Roseanne Barr as Ruth a wife and mother who tries to please her husband but finds him pulling away and spending more time at the office than at home and soon begins an affair with a famous romance novelist Mary, played by the queen herself Meryl Streep. The husband leaves Ruth and his kids so what does Ruth do? Basically, she decides she's had enough of playing nice and quiet housewife. What happens next is a cool elaborate plan by showing the truth about the adulterous couple while creating a new successful life of her own.

Roseanne does well as the superheroine in the vengeance department and was a good transition from her current state into a business woman with a hard grip on her own destiny. Meryl Streep does well to drive through a range of hilarious emotions. How she handles a scene involving a dog licking her feet while she awakes is funny as. Overall a funny flick which demonstrates never underestimate anyone who is been treated badly - 6/10

Meryl Streep as an actress is in a league of all time greats and a legend in her lifetime. In She Devil (and this is a must watch movie ) she has performed a role at odds with her persona with grace and panache.

The fast aging author unhappy without a man in her life is played to perfection. The scene in which Meryl Streep is just getting out of bed and mistakes the dog licking her toes for the man in her life is exceptionally well played.

She uses her fully clothed behind to communicate the frustration so exceedingly well it is a scene which stays firmly etched in the mind.

It is great to see the movie breaking typecasts and stereotypes and unravels like a fairy tale the female version of David taking on Goliath.

Painfully unfunny "comedy" about a disgusting woman (Roseanne Barr) whose husband (Ed Begley, Jr.) cheats on her with a romance novelist (Meryl Streep), so she decides to get revenge. It's amazing how unsympathetic Roseanne's character is. I don't blame Begley for cheating. She's vomitous (both the character and the actress playing her). This movie is just a complete misfire. The comedy is so broad and all over the place. Begley and Streep seem to be playing it as some sort of parody, with Streep in particular giving a ridiculously over the top (but never funny) performance. Meanwhile Roseanne is playing the whole thing straight in her usual "nails on a chalkboard" way. I just hated everybody in this and wished unhappiness on them all. If you like watching movies where ugly people do ugly things to one another, then this is right up your alley. I would rather let Roseanne sit on me (i.e. kill myself) than watch it again.

I had seen the British mini-series on PBS and adored it...glib, vengeful,witty and wicked. Meryl Streep in the Mary Fisher role was wonderfully cast. However, the US version somehow lost its edge in the translation. ;-)

Ruth Patchett (Roseanne Barr) is no trophy wife and she's desperate to impress her accountant husband Bob (Ed Begley Jr.). They have two kids. Mary Fisher (Meryl Streep) is a best selling romance novelist. Bob and Mary fall over each other at first glance. Ruth suspects it immediately. Bob has enough of Ruth and moves out calling her a "She-Devil". She makes a list of Bob's Assets; home, family, career, and freedom. She then sets off to destroy each item on the list. She starts work at a nursing home to get close to Mary's mother and befriends downtrodden nurse Hooper (Linda Hunt).

Roseanne is pushing her unpleasantness to the limits. This is a dark comedy that is concentrating on the dark and leaving the comedy to find its own way. It's a movie full of unpleasant characters being unpleasant. To its credit, somebody thought Roseanne couldn't do this unless she has a prominent mole on her face. There is no need to fear. Roseanne can be really be annoying with or without the mole. She does need more glee in her revenge. The comedy never truly takes off. It's a matter of tone and it's too down to be funny.

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.

The movie version of Fay Wheldon's novel "The Life and Loves of a She- Devil" for the most part misses its marks. You would think a movie with this cast and great source material would be a lot better than it is but it's not. Though a film's failure cannot be blamed on just one thing, for this film, the lion's share belongs to the director, Susan Seidelman. Her direction is flat and unimaginative. She shot "She Devil" like it was a TV movie. It certainly looks like it. There's no spark or liveliness to it. It's point and shoot direction. This is acceptable when the actors and the material are solid but here they are not. As good as Roseanne Barr (or Arnold or whatever last name she was or wasn't using at the time) was on her TV show, here she's as flat as Seidelman's direction and since she's the center of the film, it nearly kills it. I think our sympathies were supposed to rest firmly with Roseanne's character Ruth but since she is presented so negatively, we cannot understand why her husband (or anyone) would have been attracted to her in the first place. She comes across as gross and incompetent. There's nothing at stake when she seeks revenge on Bob for leaving her because neither character feels worth the time.

The whole movie would have been forgotten if it had not been for one thing: the unbelievable, incredible, tour-de-force comic performance of Meryl Streep. Every single scene she is in is a comic whopper. When she is on screen, the whole movie suddenly jolts to life. Streep's acting skills often rely on capturing the smallest of nuances and in "She Devil" she nails them perfectly. Her Mary Fisher is a woman addicted to the impossible dream of perfect romance. Every word out of her mouth is whispery affirmation of it. She is so good that we end up rooting for her and worse, feeling sorry for her. Streep's best scene (and they are all good) comes about midway when Bob (now cheating on her) comes home late. Streep, on all fours, wags her fanny as she exclaims she's an artist. Brilliant.

When one thinks of Meryl Streep, he or she gets images of great performances in films like "Kramer vs. Kramer", "The Deer Hunter" or "Sophie's Choice". The most interesting thing about "She-Devil" is that ironically, just as it introduces some humility into her character Mary Fisher's life, Meryl Streep is brought down to the gutter just for associating with this stinker. I hope they paid her a fortune. Don't get me wrong--there were moments where I laughed (such as when the prize poodle plays its last game of fetch!), but this was a low-rate film with a script that had unbelievable holes big enough to drive a Mack truck right on through. Normally in a silly comedy that is just fine, but these were so glaring that common sense did not allow me to enjoy the movie (and the blue-screen of the house blowing up while Rosanne walks away is just terrible!). For example, why would Bob Patchett have knocked up Roseanne's hideous character to begin with? And if the She-Devil really loved her kids would she really just leave them with her husband and his mistress for a few months? The only reason this movie got higher than a 2 or 3 was due to Meryl's portrayal of the slutty, sexy main character played off against Roseanne's convincing act(?) as a disgusting person (the mole on her mustached face is truly gross). Also, the woman who plays Mary Fisher's mom is a hoot. The ending of this movie was terrible with no real resolution other than the fact that the She-Devil got even by completing a demolition list on her ex-husband. I guess we are to believe that she has transcended into a likeable, attractive, confident woman, but in fact she is just a crafty witch who used her friend's money to get even with her cheating husband. I recommend this movie if you are really, really bored and can find absolutely nothing else to do. Otherwise, unless you are a Meryl Streep fan (who is really very sexy in a twisted sort of way throughout this film) who wants to see her doing something different, don't waste your time.