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Bewitched (2005)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:179
Fresh:44
Rotten:135
Average Rating:4.6/10
Consensus: Bewitched is haunted by scattered laughs and a lack of direction.
Runtime: 1 hr 42 mins
Genre: Comedies
US Box Office: $62,252,415
Synopsis: In Columbia Pictures' beguiling romantic comedy, Bewitched, an all-star cast led by Nicole Kidman, Will Ferrell, Shirley MacLaine and Michael Caine cast their spell on the movie version of one of... In Columbia Pictures' beguiling romantic comedy, Bewitched, an all-star cast led by Nicole Kidman, Will Ferrell, Shirley MacLaine and Michael Caine cast their spell on the movie version of one of TV's most memorable and beloved shows under the direction of Nora Ephron, who co-wrote the screenplay with Delia Ephron for producers Douglas Wick, Lucy Fisher, Penny Marshall and Nora Ephron. Out in California's San Fernando Valley, Isabel (Nicole Kidman), is trying to reinvent herself. A naive, good-natured witch, she is determined to disavow her supernatural powers and lead a "normal" life. At the same time, across town, Jack Wyatt (Will Ferrell) a tall, charming actor is trying to get his career back on track. He sets his sights on an updated version of the beloved 1960's situation comedy "Bewitched," reconceived as a starring vehicle for himself in the role of the mere-mortal Darrin. Fate steps in when Jack accidentally runs into Isabel. He is immediately attracted to her and her nose, which bears an uncanny resemblance to the nose of Elizabeth Montgomery, who played Samantha in the original TV version of "Bewitched." He becomes convinced she could play the witch Samantha in his new series. Isabel is also taken with Jack, seeing him as the quintessential mortal man with whom she can settle down and lead the normal life she so desires. It turns out they're both right - but in ways neither of them ever imagined. Columbia Pictures Presents A Lucy Fisher and Douglas Wich/Penny Marshall Production Bewitched starring Nicole Kidman, Will Ferrell, Shirley MacLaine and Michael Caine. The film also stars Jason Schwartzman, Kristin Chenoweth, Heather Burns, Jim Turner, Stephen Colbert, David Alan Grier and Steve Carell. The director is Nora Ephron. Written by Nora Ephron & Delia Ephron. The producers are Douglas Wick, Lucy Fisher, Penny Marshall and Nora Ephron. The executive producers are James W. Skotchdopole, Steven H. Berman and Bobby Cohen. The production designer is Neil Spisak. The editor is Tia Nolan. The costume designer is Mary Zophres. The music is by George Fenton. -- © Columbia Pictures [More]
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Will Ferrell, Shirley MacLaine, Michael Caine
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Will Ferrell, Shirley MacLaine, Michael Caine, Jason Schwartzman, Kristin Chenoweth, Steve Carell
Director: Nora Ephron
Director: Nora Ephron
Screenwriter: Delia Ephron, Nora Ephron
Producer: Douglas Wick, Lucy Fisher, Penny Marshall, Nora Ephron
Composer: George Fenton
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Reviews for Bewitched
Had it stuck to the ground rules it laid out early on, it would've made sense.
Nicole Kidman usually has a nose for smart projects, but here the Oscar winner wiggles hers into one big mess.
[A]n effort that appears to be held together by baling wire and chewing gum. That would be an off-brand of both items.
After Kidman and Ferrell have hit all the expected marks (meet cute, encounter obstacles, fall in love, encounter fatal setback, fall back in love), the movie winds up being hoist on its own petard, becoming the butt of one of its own inside jokes.
Stepping into Montgomery’s shoes is a thankless task, but Kidman comes across as preternaturally flustered by everything that heightened the serenity of her predecessor.
Made up of hearty but meaningless laughs in a script of breezy, frothy spunk.
Despite the intriguing set-up, formula proves as hard a habit for Ephron to kick as magic is for Isabel.
If at first you don't succeed, just rewind. See the film and you'll get it.
So what's left? Pretty much Kidman's consternation and Ferrell's one-man show, which is funny for awhile but eventually even he runs out of gags. Perhaps more cowbell would have helped.
Director Nora Ephron takes an imaginative idea and turns it into a flat, skill-less dud.
An unlikely match on the surface, you really end up enjoying the pairing of Ferrell and Kidman.
Suffers from its sheer peculiarity as well as a lack of chemistry (or alchemy, for that matter) between leads Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell.
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