I WAS A TEENAGE FAUST

What would it take for you to sell your soul? Marlowe asked it. Goethe asked it. Even the hit musical Damn Yankees gave it a whirl. But now that the legendary tale of the 16th charlatan has been spun into a devilishly entertaining new comedy of a 21st century nerd, the question has finally been answered once and for all, like, totally.

It’s been years since Mr. Five (Robert Townsend, The Parent ‘Hood, Hollywood Shuffle ) delivered a soul to his boss, Mephisto (Stuart Margolin), and if he doesn’t act fast, he’s going to be roasting in eternal flames. Enter Brendan Willy (Josh Zuckerman, Return to the Secret Garden, Geppetto), the biggest loser in Cloverdale, Indiana, loser capital of the world. The high point in his life was running for 10th grade Student Council. The only candidate on the ballot, he still didn’t win. Like his terminally nerdy best friend, Tom (Noel Fisher, Ratz), he’d do anything to be popular. Always with his four eyes on Twyla Day (Caroline Elliot, Ratz ), the most beautiful girl in school, Brendan doesn’t stand a chance. Unless of course, he’s given the chance.

All Brendan has to do is sign Mr. Five’s contract—in blood—and as sure as damnation, a cool new car, new clothes, and new friends are his. Not so fast. A keen negotiator, Brendan wants to make his own rules. A lousy businessman, Mr. Five agrees, only to be hounded by Babylonia (Morgan Fairchild, North and South ), a hellish cohort who’s dropped by to make sure he squares the deal. But being tempted with a whole new outlook on life has Brendan seeing things (thanks to contacts) in a whole new way—including a secret side of Twyla he never imagined. Now they’re both learning a lesson about playing with fire—and if they can’t outwit Mr. Five, Brendan and Twyla will have the devil to pay.