dtucker86 Review of The Devil and Max Devlin

The Devil and Max Devlin (1981)

a great follow up to The Last Flight Of Noah's Ark

[8 October 2001]

Elliot Gould has always been one of my favorite actors. I feel that he has been so sadly underrated. When he starred in the 1980 Disney film The Last Flight Of Noah's Ark, I felt he should have been named a Disney Legend for the great work he did. The year after TLFONA, he made this film which is a very worthy follow up, in fact I remember at the time it was released that he proclaimed it as the best film he ever made. Despite the fact it deals with the devil and hell, I still feel this is a good family film that teaches a lesson. We see that Gould's character isn't really bad, he just needs a good slap in the face to make him realize how greedy and selfish he is. The scenes in hell that are supposed to be scary are really funny, special effects in 1981 weren't what they are today! Whats interesting is that the young actress who plays the singer in the film looks a lot like Barbara Streisand and Gould was married to her! I really enjoyed the song "Roses and Rainbows" that she sang. What really tickled me about this movie is the fact that it is the only time I have ever seen Bill Cosby, America's favorite TV dad and all around good guy, play a baddie, the Devil himself! I'll be he had a ball making this film! The only thing is that scene where it shows him in full Devil costume screaming at Elliott Gould might frighten small children. Not to be a spoiler, but this film has a very happy ending and you really feel good for Gould's character because he has learned his lesson the hardest way imaginable!