Shortcut to Happiness

Jabez Stone is a desperate, down-on-his-luck writer who hits rock bottom when his close friend, Julius Jensen, finds success. In his attempts to get his work published, he meets a beautiful stranger who offers him a chance at fame and fortune in exchange for his soul. Stone, having lost faith in himself, agrees to the offer.

After accepting the deal, Jabez is quickly lavished with all he had ever dreamed of: a book deal, money, women, notoriety, Stone now has it all. However, despite the success, he is losing the friendship, respect and trust of those around him. Coming to the realization that he did not quite get everything that he bargained for, Stone begs the devil to release him from their deal. When the devil scoffs, he turns to famed orator Daniel Webster. The two conclude that they should take the battle to court with Webster defending Stone in an otherworldly trial against the devil in the ultimate battle of wits in a fight over the fate of Stone's soul.

{{Cast listing|

• Anthony Hopkins as Daniel Webster
• Alec Baldwin as Bez Stone
• Jennifer Love Hewitt as The Devil
• Dan Aykroyd as Julius Jensen
• Kim Cattrall as Constance Hurry
• Barry Miller as Mike Weiss
• Amy Poehler as Molly Gilchrest
• Mike Doyle as Luke

}}

In addition, Gay Talese, George Plimpton and Carrot Top make cameo appearances as themselves.

Shot in early 2001 in New York City, the film was plagued with financial difficulties. A remake of “The Devil and Daniel Webster," the film was meant to be Alec Baldwin's directorial debut. But due to ongoing issues with backers, financing collapsed and the F.B.I. became involved, which lead to Shortcut to Happiness never being properly completed.{{Cite magazine |last=Parker |first=Ian |date=2008-09-01 |title=Why Me? |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/09/08/why-me |access-date=2023-04-27 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US}} Baldwin eventually removed his name as director and called for a boycott of the film leading up to its 2001 premiere, but was still credited as one of 17 producers.

Baldwin said the movie was taken from him during post-production, because "[s]ome of the film's investors are being investigated for bank fraud".{{cite news |title=Baldwin says Feds have seized his debut film |work=Ananova |url=http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_838125.html?menu=news.quirkies |access-date=2023-01-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031207104211/http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_838125.html?menu=news.quirkies |archive-date=2003-12-07}} Baldwin had his name removed from the directing credit; the name was ultimately replaced with the pseudonym "Harry Kirkpatrick".{{cn|date=May 2023}} Bob Yari bought the film from a bankruptcy court for an undisclosed amount, which was said{{who|date=January 2022}} to be several million dollars. Once the film was cleared to be sold for distribution, a rough cut was screened at film festivals in 2003 and 2004, though much of the film's post-production work was not finished. The film needed further financing to complete the editing and special effects, and to replace temporary music.

In July 2006 it was announced that Yari's company would work on finishing the film. In 2007 the Yari Film Group announced the acquisition of the film and distribution plans.{{cite magazine |title=Bedeviled pic finds distributor |first=Steven |last=Zeitchik |date=2007-01-09 |magazine=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/bedeviled-pic-finds-distributor-1117957052/ |access-date=2023-01-18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112181651/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117957052 |archive-date=2012-11-12}}

This film is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for language and sexual content.

Shortcut to Happiness was a box-office bomb, grossing $686,846 at the box office, against a budget of $30 million.{{Cite Box Office Mojo |access-date=2023-01-18}}

Shortcut to Happiness received negative reviews from critics upon release.{{cite web |title=Shortcut to Happiness Reviews |work=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Fandango Media |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shortcut_to_happiness/reviews?intcmp=rt-scorecard_tomatometer-reviews |access-date=2023-01-18}} The film was criticized for its poor pacing, directing, and acting performances. Variety wrote that Baldwin, "like so many thesp-helmers, lacks an instinctive sense of how to place and move the camera."{{Cite web |last=Foundas |first=Scott |date=2007-07-12 |title=Shortcut to Happiness |url=https://variety.com/2007/film/reviews/shortcut-to-happiness-1200557871/ |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

{{reflist}}

• {{official website| https://web.archive.org/web/20070626162617/http://www.yarifilmgroup.com/films/shortcuttohappiness/}}
• {{IMDb title}}

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Category:2007 films

Category:Films directed by Alec Baldwin

Category:Films based on American short stories

Category:Films about writers

Category:Films scored by Christopher Young

Category:The Devil and Daniel Webster

Category:2000s English-language films

Category:MoviePass Films films

Category:Films produced by Randall Emmett

Category:Films with screenplays by Bill Condon

Category:Films set in 2001

Category:2007 directorial debut films

Category:American comedy-drama films

Category:2000s American films