Months of Meryl: She-Devil (1989)
Thursday, April 19, 2018 at 9:00AM John and Matthew are watching every single live-action film starring Meryl Streep.
#16 — Mary Fisher, a frivolous romance novelist who steals the husband of a dowdy housewife.
JOHN: For such a tepid and unruly film, She-Devil enjoys quite an outsized reputation. Considered by many to be the nadir of Streep’s early career and one of her worst performances, She-Devil is also a Streep turn that is often reblogged context-free online, which makes sense when one considers its outre, GIF-ready moments of ironic femininity and gaudy Real Housewives of Long Island aesthetic that some might consider ahead of its time. Having seen these images of Streep’s Mary Fisher before watching the film, I had anticipated fun kitsch or perhaps even smart camp. Roseanne’s film debut! Susan Seidelman with a budget! Meryl’s comedy vehicle to silence the critics! But these are promises that She-Devil most certainly does not keep...
We receive, instead, a half-baked revenge tale whereby Roseanne’s unattractive and incompetent housewife, Ruth Patchett, enacts vengeance on Streep’s self-possessed romance novelist after she steals her handsome and successful husband Bob (Ed Begley, Jr.). A “black” “comedy” sans any insight or edge, She-Devil is, most surprisingly, no fun.
Streep is Mary Fisher, an affected and ostentatious romance novelist who lives in a hot pink mansion bedecked with a heart-shaped bed, a small white dog, an indoor olympic pool, and her very own live-in Latino butler and boytoy. Mary speaks in a posh, breathy voice that Streep finds somewhere in the back of her throat, hitting high notes of exasperation and astonishment as if she had just run a marathon. “That’s your wife? That’s too bad,” she coos at Bob after Ruth clumsily spills a drink on her pageant-pink dress at a Guggenheim function. She invites Bob in for a nightcap and he proceeds to compliment Mary on her estate and literature. “I try to think... only beautiful thoughts,” Mary demures, before finally seducing him with the line, “I do a lot of... research.” In these introductory scenes, I was rather astonished at how dissimilar Mary Fisher is to almost all of Streep’s past performances, but I couldn’t place my finger on what exactly sets Mary apart. As the film progresses — or, rather, plods to completion — it becomes clear that Streep is not at all interested in digging deeper or revealing sides of Mary that aren’t apparent from the very first glimpse of the performance. For an actress whose raison d’être is illuminating and prismatic performances of conflicted women, Mary Fisher stands out as a rare one-note, even heartless take on an inherently exasperating character. This may be my first time watching a Streep performance and sensing that she actively dislikes the character she is playing.
Let’s backtrack: She-Devil is not high drama nor middlebrow docudrama nor a dramedy; it’s outright satire, which requires marked differences in performance style. Streep’s penchant for realism and lived-in characterizations would have been entirely misplaced in this implausible movie. But even conceding that satire doesn’t require naturalism, Streep’s performance in She-Devil remains cruel and pitiless, as Mary Fisher quickly becomes (one of) the film’s titular devils, an obstinate gag of a character that remains largely untouched by Ruth’s “empowering” female rebellion. In committing herself to surface-level jokes and protracted line readings, Streep turns in one of her most boring and tired performances. I blame the script, and the frankly pedestrian direction, on squandering most of the goodwill in its cast and set-up.
Streep, Roseanne, Sylvia Miles, Susan Seidelman, and Linda Hunt on the set of "She-Devil"
But Streep herself is oddly unconvincing. I kept waiting for her impeccable comic timing and imagination to enliven this static character. In terms of pure comic hijinks, Streep is outmatched by Sylvia Miles, playing her brash and impudent mother, and Linda Hunt, playing Ruth’s nurse coworker and partner-in-crime, who is doing the least for her handful of laughs. Even when Streep earns a laugh (like in her best moment, when she uses the foam of her swimming pool to shield her naked body from Ruth’s children), the performance rings rather hollow.
Did you laugh at Mary Fisher? Or did you just catch Streep laughing at her character instead? Does this distinction even matter in She-Devil?
MATTHEW: I think the distinction matters, particularly considering the mixed feminist messaging that plagues She-Devil, adapted from British novelist Fay Weldon’s popular "The Life and Loves of a She-Devil" by two male screenwriters, Mark R. Burns and Barry Strugatz, who had previously teamed up a year earlier to pen the script for Jonathan Demme’s utterly infectious Married to the Mob, whose magic and imagination are utterly nonexistent on this project. The odd assemblage of actors and colorful shot compositions of She-Devil, which marked Streep’s first film with a woman director, give you an idea of the Demme-esque comedies Seidelman might have made with better material. Unfortunately, Burns and Strugatz can’t seem to make up their minds about just how far to take Weldon’s spiky revenge saga or whether Barr’s Ruth is a figure for us to champion or chaff. It doesn’t help, either, that Barr, who was always best when serving as her own self-satirist and narrator, plays the role all too safe, turning Ruth into little more than a receptacle for the writers’ mean-spirited one-liners about her looks and demeanors.
And then, of course, there’s Streep, who must have realized midway through this shoot that transcending this already creaky premise was not remotely feasible. Accordingly, Streep plays this specious character the only way she can without embarrassing herself or standing at a remove from her fellow actors and collaborators, however subpar their efforts. (There is arguably nothing more hilarious in She-Devil than the idea of a ladykilling lothario being played by the fairly hunky but perpetually white-bread Begley, Jr., who is always best when embodying oblivious dunderheads for Christopher Guest or on Arrested Development.) She-Devil desperately needed more focused writers and a firmer directorial hand, but I think Streep actually acquits herself well enough in She-Devil to (mostly) stave off the insipidness that surrounds her. No, there’s not a single shot that belongs anywhere near a career highlight reel. And yes, there are more than a few moments in which Streep suffers as a result of their sheer unplayability; you can practically feel their air seep out of the soundstage during a cringe-inducing, late-film scene in which Streep’s Mary wildly takes back her home from her reckless stepkids, backbiting mom, and begrudging butler.
Streep’s clueless, unflappable imperiousness definitely emerges as the film’s most inspired comedic element, but to what end? Everyone, from the screenwriters to the wardrobe department that has decked Streep out in an endless succession of frills, scarves, and wide-brimmed hats, has decided to render Mary absurd, and the actress doubles down on this. She plays Mary Fisher like a sedated Glinda the Good Witch, but with a hollow, rotten core. Streep keeps her line readings breezy and her body language self-consciously doll-like if increasingly gawky, perhaps attempting to reveal a more studied quality to the conception of “Mary Fisher” that goes absolutely unnoticed by her fellow filmmakers. It must have been an exciting prospect at the time to see Streep experimenting with broad comedy, but her talents prove far too character-specific to coalesce with this ineffectual, gag-minded farce. Streep’s presence here is peculiar and underchallenged, only ever acutely felt in a requisite scene in which Mary, now a spurned spouse herself, studies herself in the mirror, poring over her appearance and fiddling with her features. It’s the type of poignant, truth-telling scene that feels airlifted in from a totally different movie, one that might better appreciate its actors as something more than fodder for dim punchlines and forgettable bits of slapstick.
Like the film that surrounds it, the pleasures in Streep’s performance are few and fleeting. Luckily, there were would be markedly more ingenious Streep comedies within the next several years. But for now, I’m still trying to wrap my head around what compelled Streep to lend her services to a project with such dubious gender politics, ending her decade of complex, willful women with what may very well be the most hatefully-conceived character she has ever played.
Next week: Postcards from the Edge (1990)
Reader Comments (40)
I haven’t seen this movie but the article was a joy to read. This site has discussed other bad movies but I love how the tone of the articles remain fun rather than purely trash-talky. It makes me wonder if 1) Streep has made some blood oath to do this in order to do a more desirable project or 2) she chose it to play a “fun villain” role to shake up her serious dramatic actress persona, perhaps based on her knowledge of the source material? Either way, thanks for highlighting a bizarre film. These are sometimes just as important as the ones that stand the test of time!
I remember checking a Buzzfeed list of all Streep performances and this one was in the top 10, LOL.
Apparently I saw this - there's a record of me renting it from Netflix - but I have absolutely no memory of it.
Oh well, Postcards is one of my favorite Meryl films!
This is an awful film - most likely Meryl's worst performance
Wow! I absolutely adore SHE-DEVIL. Among La Streep's performances, it ranks fifth for me.
I could not disagree more. I thought Streep was fabulous - loved her choice in giving Mary very crisp, over-the top, posh diction. I do not get that Streep actively dislikes her character - at all. The performance is campy fun and she's having a blast.
Oh, and that scene where Mary takes back her home from the kids...probably one of her best comic moments on film. The moment where she kicks the daughter and tells her to "MOVE" is etched in my brain.
The movie is very funny and entertaining. The cast is great and this really contains one of my favorite performances of Meryl Streep.
This is another one of those movies I feel like I have seen various versions of all over the world. I think it's funny. I love Mary Fisher. The scene where she slams the washer lid on her finger when the doorbell is ringing ("Can somebody please get the GODDAMNED door?") or when she takes downers, can't sleep and manipulates her face in the mirror, etc. are priceless.
Disagree. This movie has always been an easy watch growing up in my house and Streep had a penchant for playing comedy broadly during this era (I mean, many of us love Death Becomes Her and Meryl played it the same way there, big difference was she had better material to work with in that movie).
I've always felt that She-Devil (while a mess) contributed DNA to better efforts like Death Becomes Her and The First Wives Club. They're all broad, arch depictions of female vanity and jealousy.
I remember going to see it with a kind of "Garbo Talks!" feeling. You know, first Meryl comedy EVER. Haven't seen it in ages because I fear I won't like it as much as I did back in the day.
I always get this intense "Look, I can do comedy too" vibe with her. Also, Ed Begley must be well-hung.
Never liked this film.
I can never understand what possessed her to pick this the 87/88 backlash probably made her grab for the nearest script.
Hey, She-Devil ain't that bad. Meryl is quite hilarious. She keeps the satirical tone and still makes you feel the artifice is all character-driven. Pretty tricky to pull off. A really fun watch. The worst part about the film is how reigned-in Roseanne is. That's the deal-breaker and kills the movie.
I love this movie and I love Meryl Streep in it! I remember seeing it a couple of times when I was a young boy in the mid 90s and it has always stuck with me. When I finally saw it again decades after, I still loved it, and I thought Meryl Streep was hilarious. I read Roger Ebert's review after I saw it again and was glad to know that he liked it as well.
LOL at the pink Zenith laptop. The scene with her book editor at the restaurant is also hysterical.
this is the movie that made me a NO.1 fan of Streep.... not that the movie was very good, but her performance made me laugh as it was so out of character to any thing else she had done. I realized what a versatile performer she was, So I went back to rematch all of her previous movies and the rest is history. Ii cannot think of any other actress who can do all the roles Strreep has done and do justice to them.
So this was an important movie in my world!
Still not the worst film she was ever apart of - very curious to see how 'Dark Matter' will be handled. Still one of the worst films I've ever seen, and I've always been STUNNED that she lent her services to it. Just baffling.
I love Streep in this. So much fun and such an easy watch. I’m not sure if it was meant for this level of analysis and I love her for trying something different. Those terrible comedies from the early 90s are some of my favourite moments of hers.
Dark Matter and House of the Spirits are her 2 worst films...
Yeah, this wasn't very good. I think that Meryl trying to prove to critics that she could do comedy and not take herself seriously but she made the wrong choice with that film. It would take a few years for people to see that Meryl can be funny. Plus, I think Meryl is at a stage in her career where she no longer takes herself seriously as I would totally see her as Tiffany Haddish's mom in Girls Trip 2. Plus, I'm still waiting for that action movie for her to star in.
I don't think Meryl would do Girls Trip 2...too raunchy for her.
I read the book by Faye Weldon, always bitterly witty and clever.
I saw the tv miniseries which aired again on BBC 4 a few years ago.
The miniseries had Julie T. Wallace as Ruth, the she devil, and Patricia Hodge as Mary Fisher, delightfully acerbic, stylish, and clever as always.
Julie T. Wallace is 6 foot 2 inches tall, which is an important part of the book, that she is a hulking presence. Wallace was formidable and scary in the part, and got a Best Actress nomination from the British Academy of Television.
Patricia Hodge played that unshakeable condescending British upper class entitlement, but the She Devil is a frightening source of nature that can shake even that entitlement.
The miniseries length also worked for the story.
So an American version, shortened so the story is truncated, cast with a She Devil who is just supposed to be funny, and taking the horror away-- well, that was just never going to work very well.
I loved her even more when she grabbed Ed Begley Jr crotch.
PS. The British miniseries aired in 1986, before the American remake, and won a BAFTA for Best Drama Series. That's probably what encouraged the American producers to think a remake would be an easy win.
And Patricia Hodge played Mary Fisher so beautifully that it probably looked like a really good part. But like almost all the parts Meryl Streep has played where someone else did the part before her, it doesn't quite coalesce, and the original is the one that worked.
I remember when this film was released and the collective gasp it received. "Meryl, what were you thinking?" But she really didn't lose anything taking on this role; the poor reception was more about the material/tone of the film than her actual performance. She might be surrounded by chaos, but she's having a ball. That's probably what made writers/producers/directors see her in a different light and brought better comedic scripts her way. The weakest links are definitely Roseanne (who, given her standup and sitcom persona, plays it too conservative) and Ed (why would a vain woman like Mary Fisher be attracted to such an unsexy, charm-free milk dud like him?). And Sylvia practically steals the film (she would've been included on my Supporting Actress list that year).
I'm still waiting for that action movie for her to star in.
The River Wild is her lone foray entry in the genre.
Why can't they remake this with Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy? I agree this analysis is a bit too highbrow for what is a low brow comedy, like Soap Dish. I think people can watch the YouTube clips - that 1/10 to 10/10 series is great and shows you some great comedic work here. It's a weird little feminist anthem.
My friend and I watched this a few months ago and were both astonished by how bad it was. And yet it was so close to being good! The themes were much better explored in "The First Wives Club" and Meryl's own "Death Becomes Her". I don't think it's Streep's fault that the movie doesn't work. It just doesn't know what kind of movie it wants to be. It's a dark comedy but not funny. It's a feminist revenge movie but kinda misogynistic and ageist. Why is Ed Begley Jr having so many sex scenes?
This was filmed between the first two seasons of "Roseanne" and while she was a major TV star, this doomed any chances of her film career. It's too bad, as Streep herself said on Watch What Happens Live a few years ago that Roseanne was "a surprisingly good actress". Roseanne's casting is one of many reasons that this movie SHOULD work, but it all just fizzles.
I see you Dark Matter and House of the Spirits and raise you The Giver. What an astonishingly bad film.
YES! I love this film so much!
Meryl's hair is gorgious btw.
Ahaha, I'm sure most here watched and liked it more than they'd dare to admit. ;)
House Of The Spirits and Before & After are her worst.
She- Devil remains a guilty pleasure to me. But I wish Meryl had played both Mary Fisher AND Ruth Patchett. I won’t be happy until I see her in a split-screen comedy like Big Business.
This isn't tagged Months of Meryl, so I had to hunt for it.
JJ -- thanks for the catch. fixed.
British film critic Barry Norman bravely asked Streep about this film in a 1993 interview while she was on a UK promo tour for House of the Spirits, putting the question directly to her: Why did you make She Devil? I'll never forget her response. She fixed him with a firm stare and explained that she'd liked the BBC TV adaptation, and on the strength of that, she'd signed up. She also referred to the fact that Susan Seidelman was pregnant during the shoot, but didn't know it, instead believing she had cancer. Streep seemed to be suggesting that there was a level of denial/panic at work in the production process, and the finished product reveals plenty of short-cutting and little attention to detail. What the film sorely lacks is the critical part of book and TV version - Wheldon's incredible plot twist in the denoument - which is impossible to explain without spoilers. Anyone who wants to know what Streep was drawn by should watch the BBC TV adaptation and you'll know immediately why she wanted to make this film. Also, when interviewed about She Devil on another occasion, Meryl revealed that she was considered for the role of Ruth, however, feeling that it was too close to the character of Lindy Chamberlain, a demonised, "dark" villain, she'd played the year before, she plumped for the Mary Fisher role instead. Whenever Streep later referred to this period of her career, around the age of 40, she often cited being offered "three witch roles". I have always imagined the Ruth She-Devil character was the first of these, and that Meryl was also offered the role of Morticia Addams (played by Anjelica Huston) and the role of the Grand High Witch in the film adaptation of Roald Dahl's The Witches (also played by Huston). The other possibilities are that Streep was offered the role of Winnie Sanderson in Hocus Pocus, played by Bette Midler; or one of the roles in The Witches of Eastwick, but since she was referring to being offered "old crone" roles at age 40, I don't imagine it was the latter.
Michael, such great insight! How interesting that two of those roles ended up going to Huston. Like so many of Streep's roles, Morticia Addams is an on-screen character that I can't envision being played by anyone else. The production process being a bit rushed (as it would have been anyway, as Roseanne was on a tight schedule with her TV show) makes sense. There's slivers there where Mary Fisher is a really fun character, but the movie is just too mean to her.
Interestingly enough, Roseanne would later cast Melora Hardin and Lori-Ann Chinn in recurring roles on Season 2 (that was when Roseanne worked at a hair salon and it was dangerously close to being a cookie-cutter traditional show) and Ed Begley, Jr. in Season 5 as DJ's principal.
@SoSue, I just read that they are seriously considering asking Meryl to play the mom, and the way she reacted to Tiffany's thing at the Oscars (and gave her another hug that was caught on an iPhone camera), I think she'd be completely down for it.
Your review of Meryl’s performance is as stupid as it is incorrect.
There's so much attention to detail in Meryl's portrayal of Mary Fisher...I always hear the Wicked Witch of the West when hovers over the children and screeches, "As long as you are under my roof things are going to be done my way!" And then when she at her wit's end counting out five blue pills... in such rare form by the time Bob finally walks through that door ~ just priceless! Also love the Sally Jesse interview where right before she whispers into her mike, "I don't like you." She is so funny in this movie and more than that, I just can't take my eyes off of her.