Shortcut to Happiness (A Review, Recap, and Detailing the Characters)

The moral implications of a movie like "Shortcut to Happiness" are not lost on me. I am someone who writes (not a writer, not yet anyway, see movie for relevant quote), and like any artist worth their salt – am well aware of the pitfalls of 'selling your soul to the devil'.

It means to; sacrifice substance for style, quality for quantity, and to prize mainstream success above all else. Which is one of the gravest errors you can make as a writer – this film's execution accomplishes the conveyance of the theme of humility - very well. Anthony Hopkins really drives it home with his monologue delivered in the final moments of the piece. But alas I am getting ahead of myself, so let's start at the beginning.

The film opens on Alec Baldwin's character writing a novel.

We are transported into the character's writing, experiencing it first hand. The following is a detail of the visuals we see for the first 5 mins (approx.) of the film.

(These scenes are inter-cut with Alec Baldwin typing at a laptop, narrating intermittently. It is an interesting choice. I have to wonder if it was something that came about in the edit or was always planned that way. If I had to bet – it'd be on the latter, not the former.)

A young boy who lives on a rural farmstead is given a bike for his birthday. An accident occurs when he lets the 'girl next door' ride the new bike his parents have gifted him. She's okay but after falling off of the bike; she vows to never speak to the boy again. Evidently this hurt's the boy's feelings and he proceeds to attach his birthday balloons to the bike, in an attempt to rid himself of the object that has become a source of turmoil. These are some heavy themes that the movie throws at us in the first few moments.

Rejection, Despair, and a Desire to Change that Which has Passed and Therefore is Immutable.

His father witnesses what’s happened and chastises the boy causing his son to chase after the now airborne bicycle. Next, the boy climbs into a hayloft to rescue his departing birthday gift - moments before it is out of his grasp. He falls from the window of the barn, only to be caught in the arms of his father - who made sure he was at the ready; ensuring his son would come to no harm. He then asks his child, “Why would you do such a thing?”

The boy responds with (something along these lines):

“Even though it was a gift you gave me, and I know mom and you worked hard to get it for me – it made me feel bad, so I just wanted to be rid of it!”

His father knowingly replies, “Look son - what have I told you, time and time again? You have to deal with your feelings, there’s no shortcut to happiness.”

Alright. I have laid out the beginning of this film – in a manner which allows you to easily identify with the themes and characters.

I don't often choose to do this when writing reviews; since a word-for-word recap of a piece of visual entertainment, isn't something that requires a lot of creative thought. But in this case; it may be valuable to the interpretation of the characters.

And the piece as a whole.

Concerning the 3 Main Players:

Alec Baldwin – Plays Jabez Stone; a writer at the end of his rope, searching for creative inspiration and lacking connections in the literary world.

His best friend, Julius Jensen (Dan Aykroyd), a fellow novelist – is the recipient of an undue amount of success. As Stone works effortlessly to get his work published, he meets a tantalizing stranger (Jennifer Love Hewitt) who offers him fame and fortune in exchange for his soul. Stone, having lost his way, agrees to the deal – needing the supernatural visitor's help to escape a recent entanglement with the authorities, one in which he may be charged with manslaughter. He signs the deal for his soul shortly after – sealing the agreement with a kiss and night in bed with Satan.

It should be obvious to most that Stone is the boy in the novel. He’s writing about his childhood and how early heartbreak shaped the rest of his life, for better or for worse.

Anthony Hopkins: Well, he is one of the most respected actors of all time after-all. Sir Anthony Hopkins' always gives an excellent performance.

This film is no different.

Without giving away too much, he plays the publishing mogul Noah Webster' (of the eponymous Webster's dictionary) – a man who agrees to publish Alec Baldwin's novel, only after he has sold his soul to the devil – in exchange for success in writing. This development is unknown to Hopkins' character, as previously he barely gave Stone’s writing a second glance. Now his assistant has opted to work with Baldwin's character and trim-the-fat before bringing his book to market.

Jennifer Love Hewitt – Plays the devil.

 She does so with a certain quirky, yet menacing take on the Prince(ess) of Darkness. Jennifer Love Hewitt shines in this film – and she is the through line of the plot – a sort of walking talking “McGuffin”, yet she's so much more than that because of the choices the actress makes. She brings a level of charisma to the mythical character, which has been achieved by other actors in the past. But while others fell back on standard tropes, Love Hewitt brings a modernity to the part (through peak 90s cheekiness) that isn’t present in those older flicks. In other words; she adds a certain amount of 'kitsch' to the role. And if you were to compare her portrayal to Elizabeth Hurley’s in Bedazzled – I would have to say that Love Hewitt outdid her contemporary.

Jennifer Love Hewitt, she isn't just convincing as Satan - she's having a hell of a time, and it shows!

The final moments of the film culminate in a court case for Stone's soul. Without giving away all the plot beats from start to finish (much less the twist), I will say this: 

Be prepared for a magnificent monologue from Anthony Hopkins, one that will tug on your heartstrings, until you feel the need to rise in tearful applause. His final words made me cry a bit, as well as laugh.

Honestly, he’s an unrivaled master of dramatic acting - so what do you expect?

8/10 Solid film, pacing troubles but besides that the comedy and tragedy - is spot on!

It has an appropriate amount of 'feels' for a movie that's tackling this kind of subject matter. If you write, or create any kind of art – this film will speak to you, more than the average movie. But even if you're uninitiated in the craft, and how strenuous it can be; this film should still provide an ample amount of entertainment.

So what are you waiting for?

Just sign on the dotted line... For your 'Shortcut to Happiness'.