After a promising opening ten minutes, highlighted by some good gags, this movie quickly slips into dreariness and never recovers. It's not that there's anything particularly wrong with this film, it's just that there's nothing particularly good about it either and it wastes a potentially interesting leading duo.

The best thing that can be said about it is that it's inoffensive and easy to take but it's also totally forgettable and one of the more uninventive films you're likely to come across.

Horror veteran Jimmy Sangster got himself attached to the Disney company by way of his story concerning a crooked apartment manager in Los Angeles who is hit by a car and goes to Hell. To save himself from eternal damnation, he must return to Earth and find three unsullied innocents who will sign away their souls in exchange for their life's wish to be granted. Sangster shares credit for the plot with screenwriter Mary Rodgers of "Freaky Friday", who apparently added the accoutrements of a single mom and her son looking for a husband and father to love, a teenage nerd who wants to be a motocross champion and a nervous songbird who wants to be a star. Disney, who had not yet developed the Touchstone subsidiary for more grown-up product, was attempting to change their image a bit here, but the swear words and a scary scene down in Hades just seem out of place in a movie about an old softie (Elliott Gould) charming everyone with his rumpled panache. Bill Cosby is cast as Satan, who dresses up for different occasions even though nobody but Gould can see him, and Susan Anspach is the daycare worker burned by broken romances. Both are good, but it's Gould movie and he carries it to a treacly but satisfying finish. **1/2 from ****

With the past several years and all the bad publicity that has come out about Bill Cosby the fact that he could be cast as an emissary of Satan himself seems less ironic these days. The other half of the title of The Devil And Max Devlin is played by Elliott Gould who is destined for the lower depths after falling into a manhole unless he agrees to get three innocents to pledge their souls.

Where to find innocent souls in 1981 is the question, but in his new guise as a manager/promoter he finds promising singer Julie Budd, a BMX racer David Knell and a little kid Adam Rich with a real pretty mom in Susan Anspach.

I have to tell you that I was a bit uneasy in the scenes involving Gould and Rich. It was like he was stalking as a pedophile would. How Disney Studios were comfortable with that God only knows.

The Devil And Max Devlin has some interesting moments, a few laughs but not quite the hit it could have been. I would have not used the whole business with Adam Rich if I were producing the film

Elliott Gould's career slowed down after a string of R-rated films in the 60's and 70's...and came to a screeching halt in 1981. Disney's attempt in the eighties to modernize their films included casting Bill Cosby and Elliott Gould as The Devil and Max Devlin respectively. The plot involves Gould signing up three good souls for the Devil so as to replace his own soul from going down South. In concept, this is basically the flip side of Oh God! (George Burns and John Denver). Bill Cosby probably seemed like a hip if not fair replacement for George Burns (both being beloved stand-ups) but Elliott Gould was too much of a bad boy to be considered sympathetic in any film. The sort of sympathy evoked by John Denver in "Oh God!" Together, Cosby and Gould had no chemistry with little if any comic opportunities. Cosby was not very believable as the Devil and we could care less if Gould spent eternity in Hell. Singer Julie Budd was cast as one of the "good" souls (the in-joke here is that Julie Budd is a look-alike, sound-alike clone of Barbara Streisand and Streisand is the former Mrs. Gould. Of course kids who saw this film in 1981 didn't have a clue who she was...oh heck, most adults didn't know who she was...so why the trouble in casting Julie Budd?) To make things worse she sings one song "Rainbows and Roses" over and over and over and over and over again. Disney turns out more music than any film studio, couldn't they write a few songs for this film? Adam Rich (former "Eight Is Enough" social tragedy) and David Knell round out the trio in appearances that are a notch below a below-average Love Boat guest spot. Susan Anspach ("Montenegro") plays Adam Rich's mom and Gould's love interest and deserves the most sympathy for that alone.

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.

This is a film I watched as a kid and I viewed several times. It's cute and it was a popular comedy movie back in the day. The movie has a few moments of being hilarious for an old Disney film.

The movie is OK - I don't think it's the type of movie a person would want to watch several times but it is, however, a movie that is good the first time you view it so I do recommend it for those that want a silly comedy without a bunch of questionable language in it.

If you liked the "Oh God" movies with George Burns then you will most likely enjoy "The Devil and Max Devlin".

6/10

I'd recommend 'The Devil and Max Devlin'.

Of course it is slightly hampered by the fact it's a Disney film, but I feel it manages to leave a mark in what it does tackle in regards to the premise. I felt attached to the dilemma that Max (Elliott Gould) faces, despite it being a fairly predictable situation.

Gould is good in the lead role. He is joined by, um, Bill Cosby, who suitably plays a character from the less appealing afterlife. Julie Budd (Stella) is the best of the rest, especially when it comes to the music; she's got a great voice.

Disney's best film up until this point of the 1980s, which they begin poorly. Happy with this one though, I like it.

The really significant part of this movie has nothing to do with the players, but the producers. This is the FIRST ever PG movie released by Disney - after almost 35 years a G-only releases.

I saw this movie as a kid. It had a catchy song - slightly memorable plot and ... well not much else. Not horrible or good. OK.

Sadly, as Disney movies go - you'll notice on the DVD cover - no mention of Disney. Professionals admit their mistakes, are humble in their successes and remain proud about the rest. Walt Disney would have. Eisner doesn't.

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.

The first time that I saw "The Devil and Max Devlin" was in the theater (Bellerose, NY) when it first came out. I loved it but I couldn't tell my friends. It wouldn't have been cool. I was 17 at the time. I don't even know why we were there. We probably snuck in because it was raining. Now all these years later, I've very open about my feeling of this movie. I love it. The cast is top-notch, especially Elliott Gould. Gould is terrific but, hands down, the greatest part of this movie is Julie Budd. She is wildly appealing and she sings the hell out of the greatest song of all time. I cry every time I watch it and I don't care who's over. "The Devil and Max Devlin" is in my Top 50.

I loved this movie as a child and to this day I still think it's great!! There are times in all our lives that we wish we could make a deal with the devil. This movie has a great story to tell for those of us with imagination 😉. The closing number Roses and Rainbows remains to this day, my third favorite movie songbof all time. In an age of digitized garbage story lines, it's great to go back and watch a real story we can all relate to 💯

A nice little comedy flick about a dead dad that is trying to do to right.

When You think of the Cosby you think of the Huxables, Different World, Fat Albert or Darndest things.

Cosbey has main rolled tons of unpopular gold. TDAMD is one of them. It was such a great movie to enjoy. You'll feel satisfied.

I enjoyed this movie - The singing in the movie is wonderful and the ending song just sticks with me. It has a good soul-searching ending. I saw this movie when I was little and couldn't wait to see it again - I still loved it 15 years later! When you look back to the movies of that time, especially all the ones with Kurt Russell - this is the same sort of quality movie. You can't expect the technology of today but its good for the time. To have the comic genius of Bill Cosby, you know it has to be decent. I keep looking on You Tube for the songs that were sung. Haven't had that luck yet. It's good to see that Good always WINS!!! Another Disney Life lesson!