Rating: PG13
Genre:
Comedy
Theatrical Release: 12/08/1989(USA)
Release Date: 10/02/2001
SubTitles: French/Espanol/English
Dubbed: English/French/Espanol
Sound: 5.1/1/2
Run Time: 95 Minutes
Flags: Adult Situations, Suitable for Children, Adult Language
Distributor/Studio: MGM
Susan Seidelman directed this loose adaptation of
Fay Weldon's novel
The Life and Loves of a She-Devil concerning the extreme revenge exacted by a dumpy housewife on her philandering husband. Mary Fisher (
Meryl Streep) is a best-selling romance novelist of the manner of
Danielle Steel or
Jackie Collins. One night at a glamorous dinner party, Ruth (
Roseanne Barr), the frumpy housewife of Bob (
Ed Begley Jr.), accidentally spills wine over Mary's pink evening gown. Bob rushes to Mary's assistance, they look into each other's eyes, and it is lust at first sight. After a few clandestine interludes, Bob abandons his wife and his two smart-aleck kids to live with Mary at her palace by the seaside. As a result, Ruth goes into high gear to seek vengeance. She deposits her kids with Bob and then, with the help of a collection of other abused women -- including Ruth's mother (
Sylvia Miles), nursing home attendant Hopper (
Linda Hunt), and dim-witted secretary Olivia Honey (
Maria Pitillo) -- she systematically sets out to destroy Bob's life. Bob calls Ruth a she-devil, and Ruth plays the role to the hilt; first she destroys his home life, then his career, then his freedom. And when he has nothing left, she proceeds to haunt and stalk him, bringing Bob to his knees.
~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
