Shortcut to Happiness
Shortcut to Happiness | |
---|---|
Directed by | Alec Baldwin(credited as "Harry Kirkpatrick" ) |
Written by | Pete Dexter Bill Condon Nancy Cassaro |
Based on | "The Devil and Daniel Webster" byStephen Vincent Benét Scratch byArchibald Macleish |
Produced by | David Glasser Carol Gillson Jonathan Cornick Alec Baldwin |
Starring | Alec Baldwin Jennifer Love Hewitt Anthony Hopkins Dan Aykroyd Kim Cattrall Amy Poehler |
Cinematography | Adam Holender |
Edited by | John Carter Mark Winitsky Jeff Wood |
Music by | Ramin Djawadi Christopher Young |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Yari Film Group |
Release date |
|
Running time | 105 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $30 million |
Box office | $686,846 |
Shortcut to Happinessis a 2007fantasycomedyfilmof theStephen Vincent Benétclassic 1936short story"The Devil and Daniel Webster".It starsAlec Baldwin,Jennifer Love Hewitt,andAnthony Hopkins.Baldwin alsodirectedthe film. Shot in early 2001 inNew York City,the film was plagued with financial difficulties and was shelved for several years.Yari Film Groupeventually bought and released the film to theaters in 2007.
Plot[edit]
Jabez Stone is a desperate, down-on-his-luck writer who hits rock bottom when his close friend, Julius Jensen, finds success. In his attempts to get his work published, he meets a beautiful stranger who offers him a chance at fame and fortune in exchange for hissoul.Stone, having lost faith in himself, agrees to the offer.
After accepting the deal, Jabez is quickly lavished with all he had ever dreamed of: a book deal, money, women, notoriety, Stone now has it all. However, despite the success, he is losing the friendship, respect and trust of those around him. Coming to the realization that he did not quite get everything that he bargained for, Stone begs thedevilto release him from their deal. When the devil scoffs, he turns to famed orator Daniel Webster. The two conclude that they should take the battle to court with Webster defending Stone in an otherworldly trial against the devil in the ultimate battle of wits in a fight over the fate of Stone's soul.
Cast[edit]
- Anthony Hopkinsas Daniel Webster
- Alec Baldwinas Bez Stone
- Jennifer Love Hewittas The Devil
- Dan Aykroydas Julius Jensen
- Kim Cattrallas Constance Hurry
- Barry Milleras Mike Weiss
- Amy Poehleras Molly Gilchrest
- Mike Doyleas Luke
In addition, authorsGay TaleseandGeorge Plimptonmake cameo appearances as themselves.
Production history[edit]
Shot in early 2001 inNew York City,the film was plagued with financial difficulties. A remake of “The Devil and Daniel Webster", the film was meant to be Alec Baldwin's directorial debut. But due to ongoing issues with backers, financing collapsed and theF.B.I.became involved, which lead toShortcut to Happinessnever being properly completed.[1]Baldwin eventually removed his name as director and called for a boycott of the film leading up to its 2001 premiere, but was still credited as one of 17 producers.[1]
Baldwin said the movie was taken from him duringpost-production,because "[s]ome of the film's investors are being investigated for bank fraud".[2]Baldwin had his name removed from the directing credit; the name was ultimately replaced with the pseudonym "Harry Kirkpatrick".[citation needed]Bob Yari bought the film from a bankruptcy court for an undisclosed amount, which was said[who?]to be several million dollars. Once the film was cleared to be sold for distribution, arough cutwas screened atfilm festivalsin 2003 and 2004, though much of the film's post-production work was not finished. The film needed further financing to complete the editing and special effects, and to replace temporary music.
In July 2006 it was announced that Yari's company would work on finishing the film. In 2007 theYari Film Groupannounced the acquisition of the film and distribution plans.[3]
Rating[edit]
This film is ratedPG-13by theMPAAfor language and sexual content.
Reception[edit]
Box office[edit]
Shortcut to Happinesswas abox-office bomb,grossing $686,846 at the box office, against a budget of $30 million.[4]
Critical response[edit]
Shortcut to Happinessreceived negative reviews from critics upon release.[5]The film was criticized for its poor pacing, directing, and acting performances.Varietywrote that Baldwin, "like so many thesp-helmers, lacks an instinctive sense of how to place and move the camera."[6]
References[edit]
- ^abParker, Ian (2008-09-01)."Why Me?".The New Yorker.Retrieved2023-04-27.
- ^"Baldwin says Feds have seized his debut film".Ananova.Archived fromthe originalon 2003-12-07.Retrieved2023-01-18.
- ^Zeitchik, Steven (2007-01-09)."Bedeviled pic finds distributor".Variety.Archived fromthe originalon 2012-11-12.Retrieved2023-01-18.
- ^"Shortcut to Happiness".Box Office Mojo.IMDb.Retrieved2023-01-18.
- ^"Shortcut to Happiness Reviews".Rotten Tomatoes.Fandango Media.Retrieved2023-01-18.
- ^Foundas, Scott (2007-07-12)."Shortcut to Happiness".Variety.Retrieved2023-04-27.
External links[edit]
- 2007 films
- Films directed by Alec Baldwin
- Films based on American short stories
- Films about writers
- Films scored by Christopher Young
- The Devil and Daniel Webster
- 2000s English-language films
- MoviePass Films films
- Films with screenplays by Bill Condon
- Films set in 2001
- 2007 directorial debut films
- American comedy-drama films
- 2000s American films