Film Review: Bewitched (2005) Starring Nicole Kidman & Will Ferrell

I pledge to review this movie fairly - Witch's Honor! Or Warlock's Honor? Not sure. It's one of the most glaring things about Bewitched. It's not quite sure what it wants to be. Is it a loving tribute to a classic sitcom? Is it a re-imagining of the same, or a goofy romantic comedy? It tries to be all of them, and succeeds at some. As for the other things, it just sort of forgets them.

Nicole Kidman plays Isabelle Bigelow, a real witch who conveniently stumbles onto a casting call for an actress to star in a remake of the classic TV show. Physically she's a great choice to fill Elizabeth Montgomery legendary shoes. There's more than a resemblance between the two. When Kidman twitches her nose, and flashes those bewitching eyes, you'd swear for a second it was Elizabeth Montgomery - at least a close relation. Her performance is always solidly pleasant, however that she's so clueless about our modern world is frustrating, plus illogical. Shouldn't witches be more savvy than us? They have mystical powers, and have lived for centuries. Why then would Isabelle be so ditzy? More puzzling is that her character is supposed to be enamored with our mortal world - she wants to be "normal." Wouldn't she have done her homework a little better? Wasn't Jeannie (I Dream Of Jeannie) the ditzy one? I recall Samantha Stevens as being on the ball.

Part of the comedy does lie in her unfamiliarity with our world of every day drudgery. Paying bills with real money - not hexed tarot cards - cleaning homes with blood, sweat and tears - not a twitch of the nose. But too often Isabelle seems so childish, it's no wonder that her Dad, Nigel (Michael Caine) keeps a sharp eye out for her. Maybe due to the longer life span a witch doesn't mature until several centuries? That's never tackled. Nor is the most basic of questions: What exactly is a Witch? Are you born one? Do you train to be one? Is it like Harry Potter - there are Wizards and Muggles - non magic beings. Time devoted to the "witch world" would have given these characters more dimension.

Will Ferrell playing an egotistical actor on the way down the ladder of success, whose last career vehicle lies in bringing Darren Stevens back to the small, screen does a great job of juggling a character role with his comedic improv honed for years on SNL. The chemistry between Ferrell and Kidman sparkles at times, but one wonders; If Isabelle is so inexperienced with mortals, she simply falls in love with the first one that's handy? When we first meet Ferrell, he's so unlikeable, we hate him. Again, the notion of her questionable maturity or sanity comes into question. Where's Dr. Bombay when you need him?

Shirley Maclaine as Iris Smith can only be characterized as wasted potential. Too little screen time, coupled with no real moments to shine along with a whole sub-plot between her and Michael Caine comes off half-baked with so many missed opportunities. Nigel admonishes Isabelle for betraying her witchy heritage and putting a leash on her powers to wallow in the mortal realm. But when he takes a fancy to Maclaine's character, there's no talk about a double standard. Her brief moments as Endora - though remember she's not REALLY Endora - are fun, but she doesn't come close to Agnes Moorehead's electric portrayal as Samantha's colorfully eccentric Mom. When we find out that Iris guards a little secret of her own, there's no real surprise and the more than appropriate opportunity for her and Kidman's character to bond isn't pursued.

Basically this interpretation is too clever for its own good. It revels in a deconstructive approach. Although fairly entertaining at times, I'd have preferred a straight rendition of my favorite magical suburban housewife. When generous clips of Montgomery and the original cast are shown, you can't help but get nostalgic. The delightful banter and familial friction between Endora & 'Derwood' was one of the many reasons the show worked so well. It's sorely missed here. When you throw out so much of the old, to bring in the hipper new, something is definitely lost in translation. And not to be overly cynical, but with today's TV DVDs outselling many films, you can't help wonder if a lot of this wasn't dressed up as a big commercial with so much product placement served up as legitimate story fodder. Indeed, the movie DVD is packaged with an "exclusive separate disc with 4 TV show episodes." Isn't marketing wonderful?

When Michael Caine turns to Nicole Kidman and says something about him being a witch, it's just one of those things they forgot. Isn't he a Warlock? Didn't Isabelle go on and on about horrors of dating those bad, egotistical Warlocks? Oh, I know it's the same thing only a different name - gender roles and all being considered. Bewitched is the opposite. It's the same name - but a different thing from the TV show. It may be your cup of tea, or witch's brew as the case may be, but I'll stick with the old sitcom.