Bewitched

This was possibly Nora Ephron’s worst movie after My Blue Heaven, the comical take on what Henry Hill’s life was possibly like after Goodfellas. It never should’ve been made for it is a complete waste of Michael Caine, David Alan Grier, Amy Sedaris, Richard King, Steve Carrell and Stephen Colbert’s talents. Bewitched also strengthened my dislike of Nicole Kidman’s shitty acting, just being cute and bubbly is weak sauce and fellow Aussie Margot Robbie took over her spot with equally awful choices. Obviously, Nora and her hack writers knew nothing about the character Elizabeth Montgomery created. Oh yeah, and shame on Penny Marshall for being involved!

The premise is a sorry attempt at recreating what made 1995’s The Brady Bunch Movie a surprise hit. Isabel is a real witch trying to fit in with the mortal world when she’s spotted by Jack Wyatt, a movie star limping to TV to save his career. He wants her to audition for the role of Samantha in a modernized Bewitched all because she has mastered the famous nose wrinkle Montgomery did and she’s nobody, so he can get all the funny lines. See, it’s funny and ironic as this movie is breaking the fourth wall. Ho hum! Ephron should’ve just made another by-the-numbers Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks flick.

None of it is funny, Kidman and Ferrell have the chemistry of New Coke and all the old show’s characters and tropes are just wedged in…I’m guessing for the few people who grew up with Bewitched during its original run, syndication and Nick at Night years? The film’s only bright spot would be the impressive special effects, namely how they get Isabel’s dad to appear in products or whatever he does to communicate to her. Meanwhile, when they do the same with Uncle Arthur inspiring Jack, it’s rather forced. Hence I chose the very well trained cat as this review’s art.

Now I am hoping Hollywood learned its lesson and any plans to re-imagine or reboot or whatever, with I Dream of Jeanie are dead for 100 years.