A surprisingly resourceful housewife vows revenge on her husband when he begins an affair with a wealthy romance novelist.A surprisingly resourceful housewife vows revenge on her husband when he begins an affair with a wealthy romance novelist.A surprisingly resourceful housewife vows revenge on her husband when he begins an affair with a wealthy romance novelist.
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- 1 nomination total
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Featured reviews
Lighten Up People!
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.
just like first wives club only a bit better.
In a nutshell-this is another first wives club and fans of that movie will probebly appreciate this one which actually cam eout quite a bit before fwc. It's another woman scorned movie but I enjoyed it actually a bit more then wives club due to the fact it didn't drag. First wives club though it was the ultimate "watch in a group of women movie" had some moments where my attention wandered. This was very much a caricature movie but it was good dark comedy and boy was it funny to see Meryl in a role like this!
The devil in disguise
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 ****
Quirky 80s Dark Comedy Entertainment
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.
Fun role for Meryl Streep
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.
Did you know
- TriviaActress Meryl Streep was considered for the "She-Devil" character, but due to some conceptual similarity with Streep's then previous picture A Cry in the Dark (1988), she decided to portray romance novelist Mary Fisher instead.
- GoofsWhen Mary Fisher is making faces in her bedroom mirror, the cameraman's shadow is visible on her reflection after she puts her white brush down on the dressing table.
- Quotes
Mary Fisher: You're still the butler--so get to work!
Garcia: I may be the butler, but I'm NOT the maid!
- Crazy creditsAs the film ends, The End appears being used from 2 angels.
- ConnectionsEdited into Safire: I Will Survive (1989)
- SoundtracksTied Up
Written by Dieter Meier and Boris Blank
Performed by Yello
Provided Courtesy of Mercury Records
- How long is She-Devil?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $16,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $15,351,421
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $3,509,647
- Dec 10, 1989
- Gross worldwide
- $15,351,421
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