She-Devil

Directed by Susan Seidelman, She-Devil follows Roseanne Barr’s Ruth as she embarks on a campaign of revenge after her husband (Ed Begley Jr.’s Bob) leaves her for a younger, prettier woman (Meryl Streep’s Mary). Filmmaker Seidelman, armed with Barry Strugatz and Mark R. Burns’ screenplay, delivers a mostly watchable yet thoroughly erratic comedy that benefits from the stellar work of its various performers, as Barr’s compelling (albeit periodically grating) turn is certainly matched by her two above-average costars – with, especially, Streep’s magnetic and often go-for-broke efforts elevating the proceedings on an impressively ongoing basis. And while Seidelman has packed the proceedings with plenty of amusing digressions and subplots, She-Devil suffers from an exceedingly hit-and-miss midsection that does seem to be spinning its wheels to a slight degree – with the growing emphasis on Ruth’s revenge-fueled exploits, as well as the comedic value inherent in Mary’s downfall, certainly perpetuating the movie’s watchable atmosphere. By the time the satisfying, girl-power-focused climax rolls around, She-Devil has cemented its place as a decent-enough endeavor that feels like it should be so much better (and memorable).

**1/2 out of ****