View source for Shortcut to Happiness

{{Short description|2007 comedy film}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Shortcut to Happiness
| image          = Shortcut to Happiness.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Alec Baldwin]] (credited as "Harry Kirkpatrick")
| producer       = {{plainlist|
* David Glasser
* Carol Gillson
* Jonathan Cornick
* Alec Baldwin
* [[Randall Emmett]]}}
| writer         = {{plainlist|
* [[Pete Dexter]]
* [[Bill Condon]]
* Nancy Cassaro}}
| based_on       = {{based on|"[[The Devil and Daniel Webster]]"|[[Stephen Vincent Benét]]}}<br />{{based on|''Scratch''|[[Archibald Macleish]]}}
| starring       = {{plainlist|
* Alec Baldwin
* [[Jennifer Love Hewitt]]
* [[Anthony Hopkins]]
* [[Dan Aykroyd]]
* [[Kim Cattrall]]
* [[Amy Poehler]]}}
| music          = {{plainlist|
* Ramin Djawadi]]
* [[Christopher Young]]}}
| cinematography = [[Adam Holender]]
| editing        = {{plainlist|
* [[John Carter (film editor)|John Carter]]
* Mark Winitsky
* Jeff Wood}}
| studio         = [[Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films|Emmett/Furla Films]]
| distributor    = [[Yari Film Group]]
| released       = {{Film date|2007|07|13|U.S.}}
| runtime        = 105 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $30 million
| gross          = $686,846
}}
'''''Shortcut to Happiness''''' is a 2007 [[fantasy]] [[comedy]] [[film]] directed by [[Alec Baldwin]], who stars alongside [[Jennifer Love Hewitt]] and [[Anthony Hopkins]]. The film is based on the [[Stephen Vincent Benét]] 1936 [[short story]] "[[The Devil and Daniel Webster]]." Shot in early 2001 in [[New York City]], the film was plagued with financial difficulties and was shelved for several years. [[Yari Film Group]] eventually bought and released the film to theaters in 2007.

==Plot==
 <!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summary should be between 400 to 700 words. -->         
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==
{{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 (actor)|Barry Miller]] as Mike Weiss
*[[Amy Poehler]] as Molly Gilchrest
*[[Mike Doyle (actor)|Mike Doyle]] as Luke
*[[Bobby Cannavale]] as Cop
*[[Karen Ziemba]] as Mrs. Miller
*John Hills as Truman Capote
*John Unruh as Hitler
}}

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

==Production history==
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 [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|F.B.I.]] became involved, which lead to ''Shortcut to Happiness'' never being properly completed.<ref name=":0">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0" />

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".<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Bedeviled pic finds distributor |first=Steven |last=Zeitchik |date=2007-01-09 |magazine=[[Variety (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}}</ref>

==Rating==
This film is rated [[PG-13 (Motion Picture Association)|PG-13]] by the [[MPAA]] for language and sexual content.

==Reception==
===Box office===
''Shortcut to Happiness'' was a [[box-office bomb]], grossing $686,846 at the box office, against a budget of $30 million.<ref name=BOM>{{Cite Box Office Mojo |access-date=2023-01-18}}</ref>

===Critical response===
''Shortcut to Happiness'' received negative reviews from critics upon release.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The film was criticized for its poor pacing, directing, and acting performances. ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote that Baldwin, "like so many thesp-helmers, lacks an instinctive sense of how to place and move the camera."<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

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

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{{Alec Baldwin}}
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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]]