One Hell of a Guy (1998) (V)

User Rating:

4.2/10   

Director:

James David Pasternak

Writer (WGA):

Laura Levine (written by)

Release Date:

25 October 2000 (Australia)

Genre:

Romance | Comedy | Fantasy

Tagline:

When a handsome devil meets a living angel...It's one hell of a good time.

Plot:

A handsome devil meets a living angel. |

Plot Keywords:

Reincarnation | Coffee Shop | Aging | Angel And Devil | Independent Film

Cast

Rob Lowe	...	Nick
Michael York	...	The Devil
Alexandra Powers	...	Cassie Springer
Sandra Bernhard	...	God (voice)
Bruce Weitz	...	Eddie
Eva La Rue	...	Daphne (as Eva LaRue)
Frank McRae	...	Moe
Signe Hasso	...	Aunt Vivian
Anne De Salvo	...	Rita
Colom L. Keating	...	Frank the Fireman
Alice Kushida	...	Polly the Postal Worker
Edrie Warner	...	Nurse Nora
Nadejda Klein	...	Donna the Dressmaker
Michelle LeBrun	...	Harriet the Hairdresser
Jon Chardiet	...	Officer Larry

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sensuality, violent images and brief drug-related humor.

Runtime:

97 min | Germany:85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Netherlands:12 (video rating) | Netherlands:6 (re-rating) | USA:PG-13

Company:

7.23 Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: When Nick is asked to say grace we see that the ladies have lobster on their plates. Then after grace, he serves them the lobsters.

Good, especially when characters are bad

Nick is in Hell. Literally. The Devil calls him into his office and tells him that he will be sent to Earth to cause trouble in the life of Cassie, the too-perfect waitress at Eddie's Restaurant.

Cassie lives with Vivian, Eddie's aunt and the owner of the restaurant. Vivian believes she was once a movie star but has no evidence to prove this. Rita, another waitress, wants to be Eddie's partner--in more ways than one.

Nick likes his coffee hot and black. He even needs to add hot sauce. The new cook's chili, though, is just right for him.

As Nick starts causing trouble, The Devil watches on a TV screen, sometimes gleefully but often distressed. Monitoring his progress on Earth is Daphne. One possible complication: Nick starts to remember who he was on Earth before he died. Brian, a clerk in Hell, knows Nick's secret but is ordered not to tell.

One of the best scenes, and something that has to be considered unique in film history, was the one where the restaurant's new cook was hired. I enjoyed the movie overall, and most of the actors were pretty good. There were also some amazing plot twists, and a satisfying ending.

Rob Lowe didn't seem to be that good a comic actor. His character's lines were well-written, but his delivery lacked something. He was at his best in scenes that could have fit in a dramatic movie. However, maybe my opinion of him is clouded by the fact I couldn't stand him in 'The West Wing'.

I didn't really care that much for Cassie either. It's probably just my opinion and I'm sure Alexandra Powers did a capable job.

But Michael York did a fine job as a despicable Devil, and Eva LaRue was deliciously evil. LaRue also gave us a sultry jazz performance at the start of the closing credits. Also, Signe Hasso was enjoyably over-the-top as Aunt Vivian.

The comical background music, which also showed up in the closing credits, was very effective. I also enjoyed the big-band music that played in Vivian's house and at the Young Republicans' dance. What I didn't like was the new-age music that was played in some romantic scenes and during the end of the credits.

This was really good.