How others will see it. This male fantasy private eye flick provides passable entertainment for those who enjoy action movies. It is a dim echo to much greater films (The Maltese Falcon comes to mind), and is strictly a formula exercise of the genre. Washington is a very popular black actor, and uncritical fans will presumably enjoy watching him go through the paces.
How I felt about it. I really didn't care whether Easy got the money or the girl, or whether the bad guys got what was coming to them. I didn't care whether or not Beals was rescued from the bad guys. I didn't care why everyone was looking for Beals, other than the fact that she was still about as hot in 1995 as she was during her Flashdance prime.
In short, my only concern about the film was that it end promptly, so that my time could be better spent watching other and better films, which even Hollywood is capable of producing.
Well, gosh. I've only written half of my usual length for a review, and I've already recorded all that this film merits. But, perhaps, I can give some examples of why I found Devil in a Blue Dress so tedious.
Why does everyone call Washington's character Easy, when he's the smoldering silent type on a good day, and has a big chip on his shoulder the rest of the time?
How many deaths/murders are there in the course of the movie? Seven? And Washington, the only logical suspect, is left off the hook because the next mayor makes a phone call?
Why would the 'other' mayoral candidate (Maury Chaykin) allow pictures of himself to be taken with kids? How did these get in the hands of Coretta (Lisa Nicole Carson)? Why would Beals and Coretta be such good friends when they have nothing in common?
Why is Washington willing to spend the night with Coretta, when her burly boyfriend is in the next room, when he might wake up sooner or later and catch them? More fun that way?
Why does 'Easy' want to become a private investigator when he nearly gets killed or arrested several times on his first case? Not to mention his kidnapping and murder of Joppy (Mel Winkler). Although committed by Mouse (Don Cheadle), Easy is at best an accessory, and is likely equally a murderer under the law.