History YMMV / SheDevil

* AcceptableTargets: An extremely subtle theme to this movie and its frame of time is its knocking of the 1980s East Coast yuppie lifestyle, not unlike ''[[Film/NationalLampoonsChristmasVacation National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation]]'' or ''[[Film/VampiresKiss Vampire's Kiss]]'', and it going into marriage. While Ruth is a middle class housewife, Bob's work life as a high profile accountant has him veer close to the rich socialite world of New York City, which is where he meets and starts an affair with Mary Fisher. Becoming estranged and far out of touch from his family due to this, Ruth begins to knock him down several pegs just to show how far to the sun he's flown to not realize that he's about to lose his wings and crash back to earth.

* HollywoodHomely: Averted, since frumpy Ruth is played by Roseanne, whose looks were never part of her appeal. Ruth does begin to wear more flattering clothing and has her wart removed, though.

* Squick: Andrew's gerbil has a very unfortunate death when he accidentally winds up in the main course for the family dinner.

* DawsonCasting: Played with. It is stated in the film at first that Mary Fisher is only 34 years old. Meryl Streep was 40 years old at the time. The character is deliberately dressed very youthfully (like a teenager going to a prom or a 20-something bridesmaid) in order to make this claim more credible...had it been played straight. Later in the film, Mary's mother states that Mary is really 41 years old- thus making it an aversion. Mary then accuses her mother of memory loss.

* WhatAnIdiot: How does a posh retirement home expect to stay open if they don't allow bed wetters?

* AdaptationDeviation: The original Book (and TV Series/TheLifeAndLovesOfASheDevil) are completely different from this movie. The changes include:
** The names apart from Ruth and Mary, famously Bob is called Bobbo in the Book.
** When Bob has an affair with the secretary [[spoiler:Ruth hires a computer hacker to steal money from the client]] rather than Bob physically doing it.
** At the trial rather than Bob's lawyer bribing the Judge only for Ruth to swap them [[spoiler:she sleeps with the judge]] since in the original versions it's clear that Bobbo has no chance of getting off.
** The largest removal is the entire original ending which has Ruth rich from [[spoiler:stealing the money off Bobbo's clients]]. Mary [[spoiler:dies]] with Ruth living in her home and Ruth [[spoiler:surgery changed into Mary]] taking back Bob who is broken from jail.
** For more changes look here Series/TheLifeAndLovesOfASheDevil.

* CreatorBreakdown: In-Universe. Happens to Mary midway through the story.

** The largest removal is the entire original ending which has Ruth rich from [[stealing the money off Bobbo's clients]]. Mary [[spoiler:dies]] with Ruth living in her home and Ruth [[spoiler:surgery changed into Mary]] taking back Bob who is broken from jail.

** For more changes look here/TheLifeAndLovesOfASheDevil.

** For more changes look here//TheLifeAndLovesOfASheDevil.

* AdaptationDeviation: The original Book (and TV Series/TheLifeandLovesofaShe-Devil) are completely different to this movie.

* SheReallyCanAct: Or, in Streep's case, do comedy. This was her first comedic role after making a name for herself as a dramatic actress, and she knocked it out of the park, leading to such roles as ''Film/DefendingYourLife'', ''Film/DeathBecomesHer'' and ''Film/PostcardsFromTheEdge''.

* WhatAnIdiot: How does a posh retirement home expect to stay open if they don't allow bed wetters?

* HollywoodHomely: Averted, since frumpy Ruth is played by Roseanne, whose looks were never part of her appeal. Ruth does begin to wear more flattering clothing and has her wart removed, though.

* HollywoodHomely: Averted, since frumpy Ruth is played by Roseanne, whose looks were never part of her appeal. Ruth does begin to wear more flattering clothing and has her wart removed, though.
* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: This movie is very definitely a product of its time. '80s hairstyles, outfits, and attitudes. At one point Andrew asks Mary if they have a satellite dish, and we see Nicolette spending all her time on a ''party line'' from a late-'80s cell phone. To cap it all off, we even see a promotional poster for Creator/TimBurton's ''Film/{{Batman}}'' in Times Square in one scene!

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The hairstyles and outfits scream out "Late 80s" very loud. House is decorated in a very 80s way.

* HollywoodHomely: Averted, since frumpy Ruth is played by Roseanne, whose looks were never part of her appeal. Ruth does begin to wear more flattering clothing and has her wart removed, though.