good back-story, and good acting

Better Late Then Never

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

How wonderful it is to see this fine actress carry a film and carry it so beautifully.

I can remember seeing this movie when I was a young man. It was good and wholesome. Even my parents enjoyed watching it when it came on the tube. Ms. Budd's performance is one of the highlights of this movie, along with a wonderful performance by a young Adam Rich. There is a lot of talent in this movie, which brings for fun watching over and over. Those who are looking for the: sex, murder, more sex, blood/gore, or foul language feature will probably NOT like this movie. Then again, we are not all alike, and thank God for that, but I think that many will enjoy this movie and refer it's viewing to others. When I would have school friends come to the house for a sleep over, it was always a 'must' to watch (if the friend(s) had not already seen the movie) and seemed clean and fresh with each viewing. I can't remember any of them having NOT liked it. Just to make sure it wasn't just because I was 'a kid' then, I watched it recently........ still very enjoyable.Gene C. Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Elliott Gould dies in an accident and goes straight to hell to meet the devil himself (Bill Cosby), but that is not the end. Gould makes a deal to get out of hell by going back to Earth to get the souls of three young people in this would-be-comedy that is just not funny. Cosby is not on screen enough to even make a lasting impression and it is up to Gould and some sub-par young actors to carry the project. Gould does do his best, but all in all the film is just a project that wants to entertain and provide messages to its audience and failed to do either of those things. An odd production from the Disney studios. 2.5 out of 5 stars.

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!

I remember seeing this movie as a kid and loving it. Recently, I watched again as an adult and found it to still be a sweet, charming little movie. The basic plot has Elliot Gould's character signing a pact with the Devil (Bill Cosby)to recruit three good souls and thus saving his own from eternal damnation. Gould gets three young people including an aspiring young singer (Julie Budd)and a fatherless young boy (Adam Rich), to sign a contract with the devil in exchange for making their dreams come true while on Earth. It all works out happily as all Disney films do, but there are several laughs, touching moments, and lesson learned along the way. I was really intrigued by Julie Budd after this film who more than resembled a young Barbra Streisand in both looks and talent. Loved the song that she sang in the film "Any Fool Can See." I wonder what happened to her after this film. Seems she never worked again.