We Really Like Her!: SHE-DEVIL (1989)

This November, get fired up as We Really Like Her! presents a screening of Susan Seidelman’s outrageously underrated dark comedy She–Devil! 

 

 

Starring Meryl Streep and Roseanne Barr (please keep reading!), this sinful slice of pastel hell is based on Fay Weldon’s novel The Life and Loves of a She–Devil. When unhappy housewife Ruth (Barr) finds out that her bozo husband (Ed Begley Jr. as Bob) is cheating on her with glamorous romance author Mary Fisher (Streep), she sets out to get revenge by any means necessary. As a newly empowered Ruth finds sisterhood among other jilted women, Mary becomes Bob’s new caretaker and begins a downward descent into domestic madness. 

 

 

Unsurprisingly, She–Devil‘s unapologetic femininity and outright misandry turned off certain (ahem, male) critics at the time. But with its larger-than-life production design, wholly game cast and zany direction by Seidelman (Desperately Seeking Susan), this film is late ’80s excess at its best. Streep, in particular, is on another level, breaking free from the stiff and serious roles that made her famous in the most fabulously flamboyant way.

 

 

Whether you’re a Meryl stan, or simply can’t resist a camp comedy, we promise you’ll have a hell of a good time with She–Devil! (EMILY GAGNE & DANITA STEINBERG)