It sounds like some newly-discovered wisdom that I shall now impart on all of you. Unfortunately, it's not. Shortcut to Happiness is a 2007 film that I just happened to stumble upon on Starz this morning as I was awaiting to see whether or not my daughter's school was to be closed due to the winter weather (which it was). I know, I know, you could say that watching any movie that I had not previously seen qualifies as a new experience. However, this was one of those situations in which I had not planned on watching a new movie, identified using a movie as the feature for a blog entry, nor expected to catch something of such interest on TV at 5:30 on a Monday morning. The film stars Alec Baldwin, looking more like the young, suave and cool Baldwin, as opposed to his current Jack Donaghy. The supporting cast includes Anthony Hopkins (who is always fantastic), Jennifer Love Hewitt, Dan Akroyd, and Kim Cattrell. It is a film adaptation of the Stephen Vincent Benet classic short story The Devil and Daniel Webster, with Baldwin playing down-and-out aspiring writer, Jabez Stone, who foolishly exchanges his soul with the Devil (played by Love Hewitt) for success. He soon discovers the kind of meaningless success he has been granted is nothing compared to the success that one earns through passion, hard work and desire. Eventually, Daniel Webster, played by Hopkins, comes to his rescue and battles the Devil in a film-ending trial; complete with a jury of famous, deceased authors. Making the film even more interesting is that it was actually shot in 2001, but never released by a movie studio. In 2006, it was re-edited, re-named and finally released. It seems Mr. Baldwin was highly opposed to the release of it in 07, even going so far as to remove his name as Producer and Director. Funny. In my opinion, it's no 30 Rock, but I still found the film to be very good and quite entertaining. And, I still would recommend it if you're looking for something other than the latest New Releases.
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