Bewitched (2005) User Reviews

Not the disaster I heard it was...but still not that good

[preppy-3 · 6/10 · 3 April 2007]

Conceited fading film star Jack Wyatt (Will Ferrell) has agreed to star as Darren in a redo of the old TV series "Bewitched". He wants an unknown to play Samantha--his wife who is also a witch. Isabel Bigelow (Nicole Kideman) is an actual witch who wants to live a mortal life against the wishes of her father (Michael Caine). Ferrell sees her and wants to cast her in the series. There's the joke--a REAL witch trying to portray a fake witch on TV. Unfortunately that joke is repeated over and over and OVER in the film. It's a one joke film.

The film does have a lot of things going for it--Kidman is a delight as Isabel; Caine is lots of fun as her father; Shirley MacLaine has a short funny role playing Iris Smythson who plays Endora; the film looks great; the special effects are flawless and there are some great old appropriate songs scattered throughout. Unfortnataly the bad things outnumber the good.

For one thing Will Ferrell--I personally can't stand the guy. I've never found him funny. This movie doesn't change my opinion but he's not as bad as usual. Isabel also comes across as an idiot. She seems completely in awe of EVERYTHING in the world. She acts like she just came from another planet. Kidman's light performance saves her character from becoming completely unbearable. Also I could have lived without the constant product placement for Bed, Bath & Beyond. But the main problem is that the movie just isn't that funny. I smiled a few times but that was it. It's VERY likable--but nothing else.

**SPOILER ALERT** The movie is almost saved by Steve Carell doing a quick (and VERY funny) bit imitating Paul Lynde as Uncle Arthur. Still that comes in 90 minutes into the movie--too late to save it. **END SPOILER**

An OK but not very fun movie. It's easy to see why this bombed. I give it a 6.

It had so much potential...

[rootsgapgirl · 5/10 · 24 June 2005]

It had so much potential... but they really blew it. They had so many great actors but a bad script. I had wanted to see this movie for so long because I had loved the TV show. And while I was sitting there I was waiting for moment where I thought it would get better but it never came. It seemed to go downhill with every passing moment. The movie dragged and dragged on. Shirley McLaine and Michael Caine's story was never resolved and the appearance of Uncle Arthur was forced and ridiculous. Aunt Clara was also another character that just wasn't written well at all. The special effects were done well but there wasn't enough of them...and considering this was about a witch, I expected more. If you loved the TV show, then you will be disappointed. If you never watched the TV show, you will be clueless and completely bored. The only good thing... Nicole Kidman was cute. And her clothes were nice. But cute and nice weren't enough.

Thank God For Nicole

[gabrieletaibo · 4/10 · 3 October 2005]

Nicole Kidman makes the whole wretched thing almost palatable. The, supposedly, inventiveness of this farce within a farce is hammered on with such lack of subtlety that, sometimes, you want to shout at the screen "Hey you! We're not brain dead! We got it! Move on! Will Ferrell is still a great TV comedian. How is it possible that nobody has told him that on the big screen less is more. Strangely, Nicole Kidman, the witch, is totally rooted in reality, we believe her. Will Ferrell, the mortal, is a loud caricature from beginning to end and we just can't get the attraction. There are some little perks however, Carole Shelley as Aunt Clara took me, thankfully, out of the movie and I spent at least 15 minutes asking myself where I've seen this actress before - The Odd Couple, one of the Pigeon sisters! Goodness! I was uncomfortable with Shirley MacLaine's cameo because I love her and I could only focus on the strange tightness in her face. I am a Kidmanite through and through that's why I go to see everything she does because I know that, even if she's involved in something quite beneath her, she manages to sparkle, to shine to surprise. Thank God for you Nicole.

Quite disappointing

[BFShew · 3/10 · 30 June 2005]

Please give me a break. The idea was quite original but somewhere the whole thing went south. I truly feel bad for Nicole Kidman and Will Farrell. There were so many ways this movie could have went instead of disappointing the true die hard Bewitched fans.

Weak plot, undefined characters, I truly felt as if someone said, "OK, we're bored with this, let's piece it together and call it a day." It would been nice if Isabel could have been seen as someone who was smarter and not so vulnerable and innocent.

I would put this in the same category of any 12 year old "I wanna be a pricess" movie. You wait three decades to find out what happened to Darrin and Samantha and you get a remake that's not really a remake. Some of the characters are from the original, some are transformed to the movie, some are just unknown. What happened? I'm insulted that Nora Ephron thought any true fan would be pleased with this movie.

Didn't someone think about running this by the true fans before rushing it out to a theater? There were times I was embarrassed to be in the audience. A total waste of $16.

A few funny moments but not worth the pain of sitting through the entire movie -- and I'm an easy laugh.

Even a laugh track wouldn't find this funny

[Buddy-51 · 2/10 · 13 July 2005]

"Bewitched" is a painfully embarrassing remake of the classic TV sitcom that ran on ABC from 1964-1972. The series, about a "mixed" marriage between a high-flying sorceress and an earthbound mortal, boasts some of the most familiar and iconic images in television history.

Writer Nora Ephron has over-thought the concept to such an extent that she has managed to strip away most of the elements that made the series work in the first place. The movie isn't technically a "remake" of "Bewitched," since the witch played by Nicole Kidman isn't the Samantha Stevens of the series but rather a single woman named Isabel Bigelow who gets to PLAY Samantha Stephens on TV. It's all very chic and complicated, you see, but the story goes something like this: tired of the life of instant gratification that witchcraft so easily affords her, Isabel has decided to strike out on her own as a totally self-reliant mortal, moving into a tract home in the San Fernando Valley and vowing to get through the remainder of her days without the benefit of witchcraft. One afternoon while at a bookstore, she is spotted by one Jack Wyatt, a pompous, self-centered movie actor whose career and personal life have both been in the tank of late and who is hoping to at least jumpstart the former by taking on the role of Darrin Stevens in a new version of the old series. One glimpse of Isabel's nose-twitching ability convinces him that this non-actress would be perfect for the part, so we wind up, in true Pirandellian fashion, with a fictional TV witch being played by an honest-to-God real life witch.

The overriding problem with this film is that it completely undercuts the very elements that made Samantha such a likable and compelling figure for millions of spellbound American viewers. Even though the character played by Elizabeth Montgomery was basically just a "typical American housewife," content with staying at home and submitting to her husband, she was also intelligent, shrewd, occasionally subversive and always wise to the ways of human nature. Isabel is none of these things. In fact, she has been conceived as little more than a dingbat airhead, dippy, goofy and hopelessly backward in her dealings with other people, making us wonder what it was she'd been doing for all the millennia prior to the time of this story. I doubt Ephron intended for the story to be ironic in this way, but the old Samantha Stevens from 40 years ago came across as a more modern woman then than Isabel does today. This is clearly Kidman's worst, most annoying performance ever, which only goes to show that even an Academy Award winning actress can't make a silk purse out of every sow's ear that comes her way. The same goes for Will Ferrell in the role of the pseudo-Darrin whose over-the-top turn here is the movie equivalent of fingernails being dragged across a chalkboard for a grueling one hour and forty minutes (the combined running time of almost four episodes in the original series). Michael Caine as Isabel's warlock father and Shirley MacLaine as a real life witch who happens to be playing Endora are both old pros enough to turn in decent performances, but even they will undoubtedly want to expunge this turkey from their otherwise illustrious resumes as soon as possible.

In the TV "Bewitched," there was a certain subtle tension built into the premise that carried through from episode to episode. The Stevenses had to find ways to keep the outside world from finding the truth out about Samantha's real identity, not always an easy task what with Endora or Aunt Clara or Uncle Arthur popping in unannounced at all hours of the day or night casting a spell on some poor, unsuspecting mortal or wreaking havoc on the young couple's marital harmony and domestic bliss. This tension is completely lost in the film, as is the conflict between Darrin and Endora that always threatened to end with Darrin being turned into a chimpanzee or a bullfrog and Samantha running back to the effortless ease and comfort of her former existence. There really is no logical or coherent conflict to speak of in this film, just a lot of people running around acting silly to no discernible point or purpose. In fact, the only quality scene in the movie is one in which Isabel and Jack are cavorting around an empty set while Frank Sinatra's version of the title song plays in the background. It turns out to be the one - pardon the pun - "magical" moment in the film.

For, astonishingly, even the magic in this film is humdrum compared with the stuff that was done on the TV show. Someone should inform the makers of this film that special effects have actually advanced some in the last half century. One would certainly never know it by watching this film.

The one positive thing to be said about this movie is that it doesn't come saddled with one of those insipid, mind-numbing laugh tracks that are regularly slapped onto TV sitcoms - but then again even a laugh track wouldn't find much to chortle over here.

Stick With The Reruns...

[hokeybutt · 2/10 · 1 July 2005]

BEWITCHED (1 outta 5 stars) What a terrible, misbegotten abortion of a movie this turned out to be! Why couldn't they just be content to make a straight-forward adaptation of the old TV series? Samantha's a witch, Darren's a mortal... they fall in love and then conflicts ensue. Why did they have to devise this complicated and nonsensical storyline about a lousy movie actor (Will Ferrell) who plans on saving his floundering career by starring in a TV remake of "Bewitched"? And he just happens to cast a real witch (Nicole Kidman) in the female lead? And this real witch just happens to have some real relatives who are the same characters from the original TV series? The story gets pretty desperate at times... with "dream" sequences, the appearance of characters who may or may not be mere figments of someone's imagination and the ability of "Samantha" to turn back time indefinitely to erase any of her spells that may have gone awry. (Too bad they couldn't just rewind this whole movie and start over again.) Kidman has an appealing screen presence and probably could have done a good job in an actual "Bewitched" story. Michael Caine and Shirley MacLaine are wasted on a goofy subplot that never really comes to any kind of satisfying conclusion. Will Farrell has a few funny moments but basically he plays an unlikable twit and there is no reason in the world for Kidman's character to fall in love with him. Awful, awful stuff... maybe if we all wriggle our noses we can make this movie disappear...?

Was it really that bad???

[Kingslaay · 7/10 · 10 May 2017]

I quite enjoyed Bewitched. I was familiar with the TV show of the 60s and believe Elizabeth Montgomery made the role her own. However Nicole Kidman wasn't too bad and even mastered the iconic nose twitch for the role. The story was quite interesting, believable to an extent and entertaining. Will Ferrell also did a great job as her co- star. As far as remakes go this was pretty well done and had some decent performances.

I do not feel it deserves such a low rating as I too was a fan of the classic TV show and can appreciate this film. I won't be surprised if people listened to 'critics' and made up their minds not to like it. However every person who fancies him or herself as a reasonable film critic should consider the canon law. Thou must not judge a film on its reviews but on its merit and worth.

Nora Ephron Sucks and so did Bewitched

[LordAndrew · 1 July 2005]

To it's credit Bewitched is something of a paradigm shift away from the typical little to big screen transition. Those lovable little twits that brought us "You've Got Mail" have delivered a film not about a witch named Samantha and her idiotic husband Darren, but something much more interesting, a film about a remake of a TV show about a witch named Samantha.

Now the really hilarious thing about this is that the actress playing Samantha is really a witch who wiggles her nose and has an extended family that's almost identical to the family on the original TV show, Huzza!!!! You may wonder how this strange coincidence could be handled gracefully. My answer is, I don't know, and by the way that's the Ephron Sisters answer too.

Another strange thing is that the witch seems to be free to rewind time whenever she messes things up. I've always wondered when I've seen this in movies, what happens to the other 6 billion people, wouldn't there be some sort of butterfly effect? Makes you think she's sort of a selfish bitch. I wish I had that power so I could get back the 90 minutes I wasted on this garbage.

Awful!

[mcanna-1 · 1/10 · 25 June 2005]

Sitting through this flick was like watching a car crash in slow motion. Though there are funny bits, the supporting cast is unused despite the star power and potential. Jason Schwartzman, Kristin Chenowith, Steve Carrell, etc. all are wasted, by the second half of the movie, all seem to have faded into the background. Nicole Kidman and Will Farrell have zero chemistry and what is there seems forced. The writing gets progressively worse and there seems to be a lot of repetition. Save your money and wait for this one in the DVD bargain bin. The idea behind this re-imagination of the Bewitched series is something different, however this one doesn't make it off the ground.

Cute, but not amazing

[malakaiii · 6/10 · 20 June 2005]

I had a chance to see this movie at an advanced screening.

I'm sorry to say that there were people who walked out. Admittedly, the first half is kind of dull. The cute and funny parts are few and far between.

The plot is dragged down horribly by some really bad secondary characters. Uncle Arthur, Iris/Endora and Isabelle's father are all reaaaally dull and contrived. The movie comes to a grinding halt when they appear.

The script writing is quite clever, and Nicole Kidman (happy birthday today!) is great, as always. Will Ferrell just plain cracks me up. I would have liked to see the plot give him more goofy parts, because that's when he really shines.

All in all, not really a surprising movie. Wait and rent it!

Most importantly...it's NOT a remake.

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 16 December 2020]

It's hard to imagine "Bewitched" having an overall score of 4.8 on IMDB. This would indicate that it's a pretty bad film...which is hard to imagine since the film stars Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell...and was written and directed by Nora Ephron. Yet, somehow the film was not a hit and is thought of as one of the worst movie any of these folks ever made...if not THE worst. I was curious about this...so I decided to torture myself and see.

Instead of just making a remake of the TV show, Ephron decided to do something unusual. The film is about an obnoxious and self-centered actor, Jack (Ferrell) and his attempt to make a new version of the old TV show "Bewitched". And, in the process, he accidentally comes in contact with a REAL witch, Isabel (Kidman), and hires her to co-star in this reboot. Unfortunately, she soon realizes that Jack is a jerk who wants her to essentially be a nothing on the show...with him, alone, being the star. She's furious and decides to hex him...or quit the show. What's next? See the film...or not.



So why did so many folks dislike this movie? Well, I think it's for a variety of reasons. First, and perhaps the biggest problem, is that it really is NOT a remake. Folks who adored the TV show were no doubt disappointed to see this. Second, and it's more of a minor quibble, but some characters are supposed to be from the show and others, such as Aunt Clara, are supposed to be real witches. This is pretty confusing and made little sense. Third, Will Ferrell's character was supposed to be unlikable...or at least an obnoxious actor. But they simply made him TOO unlikable...a real jerk. His being this awful also is a problem as it's hard to keep your interest in the story when you hate one of the main characters. Sure, he becomes nice later...but by then it's too late AND the transformation made little sense. Fourth, the film really could have been very funny. Oddly, however, there's barely a laugh in the film...and with these situations it's hard to imagine it not being funny. Fifth, with all this talent (not just Kidman, Ferrell and Ephron but Shirley MacLaine, Michael Caine and Jason Schwartzman are in the movie), you expect so much better. Overall, it isn't terrible but it isn't very good either...and disappointing.

By the way, was there much about this film I liked? Well, I loved hearing Steve Lawrence singing "Bewitched", as if you didn't know better, you'd swear it was Sinatra himself singing the tune....that was pretty incredible.

A Pleasant Surprise

[cmccarthy-13 · 8/10 · 31 December 2007]

When I first heard that a film version of Bewitched was being made I was sceptical. These new film versions of old classic TV shows very rarely make the grade. However, in this case I was very pleasantly surprised.

This film offers an interesting take on the old story. Isabel Bigelow is a witch who is trying to stop relying on her magical powers and start a new and more ordinary life.A chance meeting with Hollywood actor Jack Wyatt leads to her being offered the lead role of Samantha in a remake of the TV series Bewitched.

Nicole Kidman is fresh faced and innocent as Isabel and Will Ferrell makes an adequate Jack.Michael Caine also makes a great star turn as Isabel's randy warlock dad.

This is a sweet love story which doesn't rely too heavily on special effects as many such remakes have a tendency to do. Fans of the original TV show will not be disappointed as this frothy concoction remains true to the spirit of the original series but a new perspective breathes new life into an old idea.

hello uncle Arthur!

[pookey56 · 7/10 · 27 October 2005]

i waited a while to watch this film because i had read so many negative reviews. i waited a long time for the release of this movie too since it received quite a bit of pre-release attention. well i have to say that this movie made me laugh! Nicole Kidman was an absolute charm as "Samantha" and Will Ferrell's reaction to her true identity was pretty hilarious. OK, it wasn't a perfect movie and the screen play was less believable than the characters. yet aunt Clara and Steve Carell as uncle Arthur were a complete joy! i think Steve actually stole the show in Bruce Almighty and that's not an easy thing when Jim C is involved. (he was so funny in THE FORTY YEAR OLD VIRGIN). and aunt Clara looked exactly like the original aunt in the TV series, right down to the voice and the eccentric personality. i'm becoming used to seeing Michael Caine in everything and good for him. Shirley MacLaine's Endora i felt was a bit of a throw-away character because i know she could have made so much more of the character than she was allowed. there were a few loose ends in this film too which smells a bit like a sequel. i'd rather see someone other than Nora Ephron directing and writing though. so, i'm not sorry at all that i watched this film and enjoyed more laughs than i was expecting. and one last thing; cheers to you Elizabeth, wherever you are....

Horrible!!

[aggiedude · 1/10 · 27 June 2005]

I cannot see how anyone would love or even like this movie it was completely horrible. First of all, the only funny scenes were those shown in the previews. Nicole Kidman was way too ditsy in this movie, made her seem completely clueless, it was horrible. They kept doing the same damn tricks over and over, talk about shitty special effects, that whole rewind thing they kept doing was stupid. I was a big fan of the t.v. show and this movie is an insult. I am a big fan of both will Ferrell and Nicole kidman, but they just did not fit well together in this movie. Nicole definitely looked the part, but they could've gotten a better Darren. Also, the whole movie about a taping of a t.v. show concept was far from clever, I was expecting something more similar to the actual t.v. show.

Nicole Kidman More Than Holds Her Own With Will Ferrell.

[BigHardcoreRed · 30 June 2005]

Although it was not quite what I expected, Bewitched was not as bad as I have been led to believe, either. I am guessing that Will Ferrell is spreading himself a little too thin, as this movie was not as funny as his movies usually are. I did enjoy a couple of genuine, hearty laughs from this film, but again, not as many as expected. With those expectations in mind, this movie might seem to fall a little flat, but looking at the movie as a whole, it was still a delightful, little comedy that I enjoyed. Sure, it was not Bewitched, the sitcom, but it simply used the television series as somewhat of a guide line to go by. The story is a bit confusing when trying to compare to the show but is fine otherwise.

Jack Wyatt (Ferrell) is a down and out, nearly washed-up actor that has many bombs to his credit. He hatches a plan to remake the TV series "Bewitched", with himself in the starring role as Darren. The main difference between the remade TV show and the original is that Darren would be the focus and not Samantha, so for this reason, Jack decides he wants an unknown actress for the role, one he can virtually walk all over without knowing any better.

Isabel Bigelow (Nicole Kidman, who is perfect for the role) is a naive witch who has just decided that she no longer wants to live her life getting everything she wants at the snap of her fingers and chooses to live more "normal", against the wishes of her father, Nigel Bigelow (Michael Caine).

Eventually, after many auditions, Jack runs into Isabel and is convinced she is perfect for the role. She is hesitant at first but decides to do the show. Everything is going fine until Isabel overhears Jack talking with the producers about how well the plan was going and this is where the fun begins. The scorned witch unleashes hell on poor Jack in many embarrassing situations.

We are even treated to cameos by Aunt Clara (Carole Shelley) and Uncle Arthur (Steve Carell). I am not sure how Uncle Arthur fit into the story other than to get Carell to do some hilarious stuff but Aunt Clara is actually Isabel's Aunt Clara, meant to be a coincidence. The resemblance between Carole Shelley and the original Aunt Clara, Marion Lorne, was absolutely uncanny. I was convinced she was the original, right down to her voice.

Overall, if you do not shoot your expectations too high, this is a nice little comedy featuring Ferrell, with Nicole Kidman more than holding her own with him. Isabel was a lovable and cute character. Bewitched did have a few surprises and was worthy of watching. 7/10

What the heck happened to the story? Terrible Editing Abounds!

[denash28-1 · 1/10 · 11 July 2005]

I don't know what happened, and judging by this movie, the people that made it don't know what they're doing. It was going along fine, then suddenly, the characters are referring to an incident that was possibly edited out of the movie, random Uncle Arthur pops in without explanation, drops out as suddenly and we have no idea why he's there or if he was a product of a spell or something.

They also dropped a lot of character development - SPOILER ALERT - faux Samantha has a real Aunt Clara. OK, will that be worked into the TV show or is it just supposed to be a nice gimmick for the movie to touch on showing us why she should be the new TV Samantha. Why is Endora (S. Maclaine) an actual witch but we don't know what that has to do with anything and if she and faux Samantha's dad will be together or if he finds out she's a real witch. This movie made no sense and was put together very badly.

They tried to work in every element of the old show, but it's in a way that makes no sense and would have been better if they just dropped it.

I can't even recommend this for rental or loan from the library and I loved the old show. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!

Oh...my...STARS!

[Carycomic · 2/10 · 25 June 2005]

I almost can't believe what a disappointment this movie was! *Beware of spoilers* Will Farrell plays Jack Wyatt, a movie star who's become washed up at the box office. *Art imitating life?* So, his rather aggressive agent talks him into agreeing to do an updated version of the original "Bewitched," with Wyatt as Darrin. The number one condition? A relative nobody has to play Samantha. Enter Nicole Kidman as Isobel Bigelow. An authentic-yet-naive witch, whose idea of normality sounds like it came from an addiction to "Friends!" I won't bore you with the rest of the predictable details. Like I said in a previous review: when's the last time a romantic comedy had an UN-happy ending? Unfortunately, the trip en route is a rather boring one. Besides myself, there were only about FOURTEEN other people who bought tickets to the same showing I did. And, like me, the jokes they laughed hardest at were ALL FROM CLIPS OF THE ORIGINAL SHOW (which Isobel uses as research material)! And, adding insult to injury? There's no resolution to any of the subplots!! Was "Uncle Arthur" really Michael Caine (a.k.a. Isobel's father, Nigel), in disguise? Does he finally spend the night with Shirley Maclaine (a.k.a. Irma/Endora)? And, what about Isobel's nosy, mini-skirted neighbor? Does she fall for Wyatt's agent, or Nina the Script Girl? Then, again: even if you do waste six to eight bucks, seeing this movie (and I hope you DON'T), you WON'T want Hollywood wasting money to answer those questions, by making "Bewitched 2." In fact, let's all PRAY that they don't!!!

Everything I Expected (And Less)

[Clownbird · 1/10 · 15 July 2005]

Just a piece of trash from beginning to end. No wonder Jim Carrey ran screaming from the script after he read it. Kidman should have done the same and maybe it wouldn't have been made at all.

Most puzzling, however, was the numerous layers of, I dunno, various realities in this movie. Aunt Clara doesn't appear in the show-within-the-movie (as much as we see), but other characters remember her from the old series - and are amazed that Isabel is playing Samantha and actually has an Aunt Clara! There's no mention that she looks and acts like Marion Lorne, makes the same entrance, and collects door knobs as does the character on the TV show. What the hell?

And then, again, we don't see any Uncle Arthur in the show-within-the-movie, but we see some sort of fictional character Uncle Arthur who doesn't really exist and is supposed to be Uncle Arthur from the original series. What?!

And then, finally, no mention of the Kravitzes - characters on the show - in the new show- within-a-movie...but then, in the last scene, we see the two characters playing the Stevens move across the street from a guy named Abner and his nosy wife Gladys.

The Ephron sisters need to retire from the movie business after this big steaming pile.

Cute but doesn't compare

[iohefy-2 · 6/10 · 21 June 2005]

I went to see the preview of Bewitched tonight and found it a cute little movie, but it does not compare to the TV series. Nicolle Kidman was cute as Samantha and I found that Will Farrell was not very funny or cute in his part. I found the story very silly although there were some funny scenes, but Farrel really was miscast in his part. This was the story of a ham actor who discovers a girl who can wiggle her nose and casts her in his show which is called Bewitched. She is a witch who wants to become a normal person, but her witchcraft keeps taking over her action throughout this movie. Darren keeps freaking out when he finds that she is a real witch. Save this one for the DVD and save yourself the money for a ticket

An open letter to God

[RDT-3 · 1/10 · 26 June 2005]

Dear God,

Given the spiritual climate of our nation at this time I implore you to smite the Ephron sisters. I beg you, never allow them to write or direct another picture. What those two harpies did to an American classic is unforgivable. What happened to straight forward story telling? The cast of BEWITCHED is spot on perfect, but what they had to work with and the direction they received was embarrassing.

God, please use your powers of good taste to stop the mediocrity of the Ephron sisters and Hollywood in general once and for all.

Thank you and amen.

A cinematic version of a strawberry smoothie

[LondonOnMyMind · 7/10 · 23 October 2005]

Light, sweet and airy - that description is my three-word opinion on the 2005 version of the classic show "Bewitched". Like a refreshing drink on a hot summer's day, the film provides a dreamy 100-minute escape from reality.

Many critics and regular moviegoers have panned "Bewitched" as a lackluster re-doing of the series, with a bizarre and unnecessary plot. Personally, I thought it was an unexpected and innovative take on the story, particularly in the days of our obsession with all things Hollywood. Nora and Delia Ephron are two of the best romantic comedy writers out there, and their ideas match the original storyline in fun, wit and, above all, imagination, all the while taking it to a new level.

The actors are mostly well cast. Nicole Kidman is brilliant in the leading role. She has proved a long time ago that she can be anyone on screen, playing an unhappily married Victorian woman in "Portrait of a Lady", Virginia Woolf in "The Hours", a turn-of-the-century courtesan in "Moulin Rouge!" and a plethora of other roles. "Bewitched" showcases Kidman's talents as a comedian, showing us a side of her we have rarely seen before. She is radiant in the film, looking like a porcelain doll come to life.

As for the rest of the cast, Will Ferrell was good in his role, although I have never been a fan of his humor and the character was nothing new for him. Michael Caine is the amazing Michael Caine, and Shirley MacLaine is lovable and quirky as Iris Smythson/Endora. Another actor who impressed me was Kristin Chenoweth. Her Maria was a hyper, ultra-Californian blonde, and it was a joy to watch Chenoweth act the nearly cartoonish character with such zest.

I would recommend "Bewitched" to anyone who wants some sunshine on their rainy day.

7/10

"Am I gonna get pregnant?! Cause I cannot get pregnant right now!" - Jack Wyatt

[MichaelMargetis · 3/10 · 27 June 2005]

Pretty much every movie being released this summer is either a remake or a sequel or prequel of some sorts. When they started showing previews for the film adaptation of the hit sixties program 'Bewitched' starring Nicole Kidman as Samantha and Will Ferrell as Darren, I thought it was going to be pretty good. I mean Nicole Kidman, as much as I don't really like her acting, usually stars in decent productions, and Will Ferrell is absolutely hysterical. Michael Caine was also in this remake, and Shirley MacLaine was going to play Endora, and Anchorman and The Daily Show's Steve Carrell was going to portray Uncle Arthur. With a powerhouse cast like this, I figured there was no way 'Bewitched' was going to be disappointing. I was wrong. Oh, god, was I wrong!

The absolutely dreadful plot follows a washed-up failed film actor, Jack Hyatt (Ferrell). After the major flop of his Vietnam flick, Jack decides to star in a television remake of the sixties hit 'Bewitched' as Darren. Jack doesn't want a famous actress in the role of Samantha since he wants to be the absolute center of attention. After going through hundreds of very untalented Hollywood unknowns, Jack spots Isabelle (Kidman) at a coffee shop and sees her wiggle her nose perfectly like the Samantha on the old 'Bewitched'. Jack casts her as Samantha in 'Bewitched', but little does he realize she is actually a witch. How will this remake ever work out? By the end, or actually by the middle you don't really give a damn.

Nora Ephron does a terrible job with this embarrassing remake. Will Ferrell is probably the funniest part of this remake gone awry, and even his screen time is limited. That's right, the show is all about Nicole freakin' Kidman. She plays Samantha with so stiff and so unimpassioned that Elizabeth Montgomery is probably rolling over in her grave. Shirley MacLaine is a good Endora, but Steve Carrell does anything but nail Uncle Arthur, a role originally portrayed by Paul Lynde. The film's screenplay is absolutely dreadful and plays like more of a pretentious love story then a romantic comedy. I don't even think you could classify 'Bewitched' as a comedy. I only laughed once! I think I laughed more while watching Schindler's List. Nora Ephron doesn't impress with her directing, and film really drags non-stop. Will Ferrell is really one of the only redeeming parts of this film. The concept was kind of original, and I have to give 'Bewitched' brownie points for that, but besides that and the perfect casting of Ferrell as Darren, I can't say I like anything more about the 2005 film version of 'Bewitched'.

In closing, 'Bewitched' is a bad movie. It isn't horrible, but it sure is bad. The screenplay is a mess, the direction is poor and the acting is mediocre (Ferrell and MacLaine are great, Caine is good, and Kidman and Carrell stink.) If you are a big fan of the old show this version may be worth watching (but you'll be sorely disappointed), but if you aren't a fan like me, don't waste your money seeing this in the theaters. Don't even dish out five bucks renting it. If you want my advice, wait till it premiers on HBO, and based on the quality of this piece of junk, I figure you won't have to wait too long. Grade: D+ (screened at AMC Deer Valley 30, Phoenix, Arizona, 6/25/05)

my ratings guide - A+ (absolutley flawless); A (a masterpiece, near-perfect); A- (excellent); B+ (great); B (very good); B- (good); C+ (a mixed bag); C (average); C- (disappointing); D+ (bad); D (very bad); D- (absolutley horrendous); F (not one redeeming quality in this hunk of Hollywood feces).

NOT as bad as I'd been led to believes

[andydufresne · 10/10 · 24 June 2005]

When you go to see a SITCOM made into a full length motion picture you go in expecting to see certain things. Almost all of the people involved int the television show are dead now, but I think all of them would have approved of this.

What is the plot? Simple. Nicole Kidman plays Isabella a real witch who wants to leave that behind to be like a mortal. She is cast in the roll of Samantha in a remake of the TV show. It is goofy and silly and nonsensical in places but SO WAS THE TV SHOW! Shirley MC is great as the actress who was a grand actress in past, but placed into a sitcom that doesn't really showcase her talent. DO NOT expect anything complicated from this.

I enjoyed it for what it is. It's light fun. MY main criteria for liking a movie is do I think I got my money's worth and was I anxious for it to end. YES and NO.

MANY of the performances are great. At times Nicole looks JUST LIKE Liz Montgomery and there are plenty of still of Liz and video of her to compare during this film. Michael Caine was excellent and Steve Carell is SPOT ON as Uncle Arthur. I mean SPOT ON! I grew up watching this and was anxious to see if they harmed it's memory. They did not. DO NOT expect a message. GO to laugh a lot and be charmed and you'll have fun.

Not bad

[tect-03564 · 7/10 · 30 June 2022]

I don't like either of the main actors, but it entertained, which is what movies are supposed to do. The dad was pretty good, and the aunt also, but didn't like the actor who played Endora either.

It made me cry, it was so bad...

[Trappedd · 1/10 · 25 December 2005]

This is what happens when the writing is execrable and when the directing is at the same level of a very bad sitcom. No need to comment on the acting, because, yes, hammy is the word!

Deciding to warm up an old show that had its own charm, to today's standards, demands a good reason. I am still trying to figure out why someone, in this case Nora Ephron, should choose to massacre a potentially good idea.

When one does not have anything to say in a script, it is perhaps better to just sit at a Coffee Bean, stay there and do nothing, preferably in the company of your sister, and forever.

Without bad pun, the boredom of sitting through this horror was painfully painful!