She-Devil is a 1989 American black comedy film directed by Susan Seidelman, written by Barry Strugatz and Mark R. Burns, and starring Meryl Streep, Roseanne Barr (in her film debut), and Ed Begley Jr. A loose adaptation of the 1983 novel The Life and Loves of a She-Devil by British writer Fay Weldon, She-Devil tells the story of Ruth Patchett, a dumpy, overweight housewife, who exacts devilish revenge after her philandering husband leaves her and their children for glamorous, best-selling romance novelist Mary Fisher.

Ruth lists Bob's assets, representing his home, his family, his career and his freedom, planning to cross off each one after destroying it.

Olivia, a young blonde, applies to the agency, is hired as Bob's secretary and starts having sex with him at the office.

As Mary is being interviewed for a puff piece by People, Francine reveals embarrassing secrets about her that destroy her career.

Intent on regaining control of her life, Mary forces Francine and Bob's children to behave, then throws an elegant party with her friends.

Bob is convicted of embezzlement and sentenced to eighteen months in prison, thus destroying his fourth and final asset: his freedom.

He is now on considerably more amicable terms with Ruth following their divorce and looking forward to catching up with his children after his upcoming release from prison.

[1] Filming also took place in Manhattan in Times Square, at the Guggenheim Museum, and in New York City's historic South Street Seaport police precinct, the latter of which served as the location for the Vesta Rose Employment Agency.

[11] Critic Roger Ebert awarded the film three out of four stars, praising Barr and Streep's performances as well as director Seidelman's "touch for off-center humor, the kind that works not because of setups and punch lines, but because of the screwy logic her characters bring to their dilemmas.

"[12] Variety called the film "a dark and gleeful revenge saga," adding that the casting is "a real coup, with Barr going her everywoman TV persona one better by breaking the big screen heroine mold, and Streep blowing away any notion that she can’t be funny.

"[13] Vincent Canby of The New York Times praised Streep's performance, likening it to "a magnificent illusionist at work.

Miss Streep dives into this thimble-sized comedy and makes one believe—at least, while she is on the screen—that it is an Olympic-sized swimming pool of wit," but felt that Barr "is unable to rise above her circumstances.

"[14] Peter Rainer of the Los Angeles Times made a similar observation, feeling that Streep's comedic performance outshined that of Barr's.