Bewitched
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Cast: Nicole Kidman, Will Ferrell, Michael Caine, Shirley MacLaine, Jason Schwartzman, Carole Shelley.
Directed by Nora Ephron.
Story: A TV station remakes the old Bewitched show and inadvertantly casts a real witch in the lead role.
Running Time: 1hr 42 minutes.
Certificate PG. |
One word permeates the entirety of Bewitched - "cute". The script is cute, the outfits are cute, the
spells, the scenery, the acting - they're all cute. Is "cute" enough to cut the mustard? That depends on you.
In a peculiar self-referential storyline, Bewitched stars Will Ferrell as the star of a new remake of the 60s TV series.
That's right, this remake is about the making of a remake. Nicole Kidman stars as Isabel Bigelow, who is an actual
witch and is unwittingly employed to play Samantha in the new series due to her uncanny ability to do the nose-twitch
made popular by Elizabeth Montgomery. Handled badly, this plot idea could have turned into a confusing mess, but
fortunately there's no issue here with following the witchy goings-on. Nicole Kidman shows impressive versatility with
this light but important role, with Will Ferrell (Elf, Anchorman, Old School) infusing the
story with his trademark energetic silliness. Michael Caine is hugely entertaining as Isabel's bounder father, also a
witch, and takes many of the best lines, some of which are genuinely funny. Perhaps better though, are the visual
sorcery gags, such as Michael Caine walking out of a life-sized picture of a walkway as it's pushed away by stage hands.
It doesn't sound very funny, but clever presentation makes it work.
Bewitched is a nice, easy-going, fun movie for all the family. It's not a classic by any means, but it's easily
good enough to turn a mediocre evening into a pleasant one.
I enjoyed this film: 4/5
I think the average moviegoer will enjoy it: 4/5
Testosterone Satisfaction Rating: 0/5
To enjoy this film you should: switch off and let it wash gently over you.
Bewitched is released in the UK on 19th August.
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