Will Ferrell and Nicole Kidman try to turn an old TV show into a magical Hollywood satire, but their trick's not much of a treat.
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
Bewitched [the show] was unassuming, charming, maybe a little innocent; this movie is smug, patronizing, and a little infantile.
A rather charming and delightful comedy, its many flaws notwithstanding.
An unlikely match on the surface, you really end up enjoying the pairing of Ferrell and Kidman.
Kidman is so darn cute in this movie! Bewitched is a great date movie and a funny film for anyone who has or hasn't seen the original television show.
No amount of spells or hocus pocus can turn this befuddled re-creation of the classic into something worth watching
Bewitched will not cast you under its spell. It is more likely to bother and bewilder.
Nicole Kidman could hardly be more enchanting in the lead, but the script is one of writer-director Nora Ephron's weakest, the laughs are scattered and we leave the movie feeling it sure could have been better.
The show, no matter how fantastical, was about something real. The movie is about Hollywood.
An uninspired misfire of a TV-series knockoff that, despite its great cast and smart filmmakers, never manages to scare up much magic.
Nora Ephron used to mine the tension between romantic fantasy and the real (disappointing) world for honest laughs. But now she has settled happily in big-budget star-studded chick-flick land, where it's all synthetic, all the time.
Dreary dialogue, over-exposure to Ferrell and Kidman's ill-informed direction to channel Marilyn lite make Bewitched a bad spell at the movies.
Outside of the perfomers, which include Nicole Kidman, Will Ferrell and a nicely tuned supporting cast, there isn't much to look at here.
It sinks so deep and fast, you don't even see bubbles on the surface.
This Nora Ephron scripted/directed romantic comedy is nothing special, but it does have a certain likeability to it that’s compelling.
Feels unfinished, like a rough cut still awaiting a much-needed polish. Fleetingly amusing? Yes. Full-out magical? Not so much.
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.
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