Shortcut to Happiness might very well be one of the littlest known films to have such a star-studded cast in the early 2000s. Alec Baldwin, Anthony Hopkins, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Dan Aykroyd, and Amy Poehler all grace us with their presence, but unfortunately for them, it was probably one of the biggest missteps of their careers. Inspired by Stephen Vincent Benet’s classic short story The Devil and Daniel Webster and a 1941 film of the same name, this Faustian comedy is Alec Baldwin’s directorial debut and also his last attempt at directing to date, presumably because the production was so riddled with problems.
After financial issues led to the film
being shelved for many years, Yari Film Group purchased it from a
bankruptcy court. They proceeded to heavily re-edit it to the point
where Baldwin disowned it, deciding to use the pseudonym “Harry
Kirkpatrick” for his directing credit rather than his own name.
Eventually Shortcut to Happiness was aired on Starz and
Showtime, and now, after all these years, it is finally on Blu-ray so
we can all watch this mediocrity in higher definition. While the
Blu-ray is nothing special (its only bonus feature is a collection of
trailers), it might be worth watching for the sheer fact that it’s
such a blemish on Baldwin’s otherwise respectable career.
The premise of the film is the
hackneyed “money can’t buy happiness” story of an aspiring
writer who can’t catch a break. Jabez Stone (Alec Baldwin)
desperately wants a book deal and becomes overwhelmed with jealousy
when his close friend Julius Jensen (Dan Aykroyd) sells his novel for
$190,000. Completely down on his luck, Jabez encounters a beautiful
woman (Jennifer Love Hewitt) that promises him fame and fortune in
exchange for his soul. He accepts this proposition, his wish is
granted, and although he is initially happy, his life as a famous
author isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. He wants out of his
devilish deal, but it’s not as easy as he’d hoped. Acclaimed
publisher Daniel Webster (Anthony Hopkins) offers to help him out of
his predicament, and the two come up with a plan to break his
contract and save his soul from eternal damnation.
Shortcut to Happiness has
several glaring flaws that seem to have arisen after the acquisition
by Yari Films. Alec Baldwin was right to be upset about the re-edit
of this film: it is awkward and badly paced. The last half hour of
the film meanders, and had it been tighter, it would have improved
the film considerably. The excessive use of slow-motion shots
doesn’t help matters either. Moreover, much of the soundtrack is
akin to outdated corporate stock music. The special effects are that
of a low-budget made-for-television film at best—which,
appropriately enough, is what it ended up becoming. The
embarrassing-looking CG devil in the opening credits is a befitting
harbinger of things to come: it looks as amateurish and poorly
conceived as the rest of the film.
Although many of the film’s issues
can be blamed on the post-production, Baldwin is not entirely off the
hook. His directing is average at best, and his performance feels
entirely lackluster. None of the actors utilize their full
potential, and comedic heavy-hitters like Amy Poehler and Dan Aykroyd
aren’t able to bring in even a single laugh to this vastly unfunny
comedy. Anthony Hopkins does a decent job with what he is given, but
it is almost cringeworthy to watch such a talented, legendary actor
giving his all for something so beneath him.
Shortcut to
Happiness is definitely not a shortcut to happiness. It would be
interesting to see a director’s cut from Baldwin for comparison,
and that would have been a valuable addition to the Blu-ray—perhaps
even the only reason to have a Blu-ray of this film in the first
place. To go into this movie blindly, simply knowing that it
features so many beloved actors, only to see this mess unfold, was
hugely disappointing.
-Andrea Riley
