The defence The Popcorn Loyalist
“It owes the canon nothing.”
The movie pursues immediacy and audience pleasure without begging institutions to certify its worth.
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The Devil and Max Devlin
Fantasy · Comedy · 1981
When Max dies in an accident, he goes straight to Hell. But the Devil Barney makes him an offer: if he manages to get three innocent youths to sell him their souls in the next two months, he may stay on Earth. Max accepts, and returns to Earth, equipped with special powers. However, his task is harder than expected, especially when seven year old Tobi demands that he marry his mother.
Movie details
The Devil and Max Devlin
“A new high in being lowdown.”
1981 Fantasy · Comedy 1h 36m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
5.8 / 10
Community rating
When Max dies in an accident, he goes straight to Hell. But the Devil Barney makes him an offer: if he manages to get three innocent youths to sell him their souls in the next two months, he may stay on Earth. Max accepts, and returns to Earth, equipped with special powers. However, his task is harder than expected, especially when seven year old Tobi demands that he marry his mother.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over The Devil and Max Devlin?
For the defence
The Popcorn Loyalist
“Big screen, big feelings, no apologies.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Big-Idea Head
“You watch with your brain, not your gut.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Steven Hilliard Stern
Written by
Mary Rodgers · Jimmy Sangster
Elliott Gould
Max Devlin
Bill Cosby
Barney Satin
Susan Anspach
Penny Hart
Adam Rich
Toby Hart
J
Julie Budd
Stella Summers
Sonny Shroyer
Big Billy Hunniker
David Knell
Nerve Nordlinger
Court is in session
Put The Devil and Max Devlin on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Big-Idea Head
“Easy pleasure, short half-life.”
It moves efficiently through the moment but offers little reason to keep arguing once the credits end.