Shortcut to Happiness
In Manhattan, the aspirant writer Jabez Stone is a complete loser: he is not able to sell his novels, he lives in a lousy apartment and he does not have success with women. When one of his friends Julius Jenson sells his novel for US$ 190,000.00 to an editor, Jabez fells envy and promises to sell his soul to the devil for success and accidentally kills a woman with his typing machine. The Devil knocks on his door, fixes the situation and seals a contract with Jabez. His low quality novels have bad reviews but become best-sellers; Jabez enriches; has success with women, but has no time for his friends. Jabez meets with the publisher Daniel Webster who offers him a chance to break the contract with the devil.
Insights
Plot Summary
A vain and unsuccessful New York City cartoonist makes a Faustian bargain with the Devil, trading his soul for the chance to become a successful artist and find love. However, the Devil has a cruel sense of humor and sets him on a path of unexpected and often hilarious consequences.
Critical Reception
Shortcut to Happiness received largely negative reviews from critics, who found its humor forced and its plot underdeveloped. Audience reception was similarly lukewarm, with many finding the film's premise intriguing but its execution lacking.
What Reviewers Say
- The film's humor often falls flat, relying on tired comedic tropes.
- Despite a talented cast, the performances are hampered by a weak script.
- The Faustian bargain premise is interesting but not fully explored.
Google audience: Google users generally found the movie to be a disappointing attempt at comedy and fantasy. Many felt the film lacked originality and was not as funny or engaging as it could have been, despite the star power involved.
Fun Fact
This film was shot in 2001 but was not released until 2007 due to distribution issues.
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