Film Snail

Bewitched
Bewitched

5.1

Bewitched

PG-13·2005·102m

Summary

Thinking he can overshadow an unknown actress in the part, an egocentric actor unknowingly gets a witch cast in an upcoming television remake of the classic show "Bewitched".

Cast

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman

Isabel Bigelow

Will Ferrell

Will Ferrell

Jack Wyatt

Shirley MacLaine

Shirley MacLaine

Iris Smythson / Endora

Michael Caine

Michael Caine

Nigel Bigelow

Jason Schwartzman

Jason Schwartzman

Ritchie

Kristin Chenoweth

Kristin Chenoweth

Maria Kelly

Heather Burns

Heather Burns

Nina

Jim Turner

Jim Turner

Larry

Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert

Stu Robison

David Alan Grier

David Alan Grier

Jim Fields

Michael Badalucco

Michael Badalucco

Joey Props

Carole Shelley

Carole Shelley

Aunt Clara

Steve Carell

Steve Carell

Uncle Arthur

Katie Finneran

Katie Finneran

Sheila Wyatt

James Lipton

James Lipton

Himself

Conan O'Brien

Conan O'Brien

Conan O'Brien

Amy Sedaris

Amy Sedaris

Gladys Kravitz

Richard Kind

Richard Kind

Abner Kravitz

Ken Hudson Campbell

Ken Hudson Campbell

Writer

P.J. Byrne

P.J. Byrne

Writer

Carole Androsky

Realtor

Annie Mumolo

Annie Mumolo

Bed, Bath and Beyond Shopper

Andrew Friedman

Andrew Friedman

Bed, Bath and Beyond Shopper

Clay Bravo

Coffee Shop Waitress

Heather Maristella

Beverly Hills Hotel Hostess

Jonathan T. Floyd

Jonathan T. Floyd

Cable Man

Ed McMahon

Ed McMahon

Ed McMahon

Alison MacInnis

Alison MacInnis

Auditioning Actress

Bridget Brno

Bridget Brno

Auditioning Actress

Dana Daurey

Dana Daurey

Auditioning Actress

Dorie Barton

Dorie Barton

Auditioning Actress

Katie Carroll

Auditioning Actress

Jennifer Elise Cox

Jennifer Elise Cox

Auditioning Actress

Laura Sorenson

Auditioning Actress

Brittany Krall

Auditioning Actress

Dawn Ashley Cook

Auditioning Actress

Julia Decker

Julia Decker

Auditioning Actress

Jennifer Hall

Jennifer Hall

Book Soup Cafe Waitress

Roxanne Beckford

Roxanne Beckford

Francine

Hugh Davidson

Hugh Davidson

Network Executive

Joe Zymblosky

Randall

J.J. Sacha

Voice-Over Announcer

Susan Chuang

Susan Chuang

Press Conference Reporter

Jordan Black

Jordan Black

Press Conference Photographer

Mo Rocca

Mo Rocca

E! Reporter

Jason George

Jason George

E! Anchor

Wendi McLendon-Covey

Wendi McLendon-Covey

E! Anchor

Julie Claire

Julie Claire

Hillary

Terry Savage

Dinner Party Guest

Dianne Dreyer

Production Staff Assistant

Kate Walsh

Kate Walsh

Sexy Waitress

Valerie Azlynn

Valerie Azlynn

Gorgeous Model

Jarrad Paul

Jarrad Paul

Valet

Victor Williams

Victor Williams

Police Officer

Liesel Staubitz

Trick-or-Treater

Ruby Rose Skotchdopole

Ruby Rose Skotchdopole

Trick-or-Treater

Molly Gordon

Molly Gordon

Trick-or-Treater

Nick Lachey

Nick Lachey

Vietnam Soldier

Abbey DiGregorio

Abbey DiGregorio

Auditioning Actress

Dick York

Dick York

Darrin Stephens (archive)

Crew

Director, Writer

Nora Ephron

Original Film Writer

Sol Saks

Writer

Delia Ephron

Reviews

s

seking

July 23, 2022

4

Jack Wyatt (Will Ferrell), a Hollywood star recovering from a couple of box office bombs, is talked into starring in a reboot of the 1964 television series, Bewitched. Desperate to regain his fame, he insists on hiring an unknown actress to play Samantha as not to be overshadowed. When he finds Isabel, she seems perfect for the part. Little does he know, Isabel is a real witch.

I have not seen this movie since watching it in the theaters in 2005, so I didn’t remember much about it. Written and directed by Nora Ephron, there’s a certain amount of expectation when watching it. This is the woman who wrote When Harry Met Sally and You’ve Got Mail, after all. Unfortunately, Bewitched doesn’t really live up to those expectations, despite its potential.

Nicole Kidman seems like the obvious choice to replace Elizabeth Montgomery as the witchy Samantha (Isabel). Isabel is looking to put her witchy ways behind her, live a normal life and find love. She seems pretty naïve of the real world but she’s instantly smitten with Jack and agrees to become the Samantha to his Darren. Kidman is wide-eyed and breathy and Will Ferrell is… well, Will Ferrell at the peak of his own comedic career. They work perfectly fine on screen together, but the romantic chemistry is practically non-existent.

Bewitched seems to be missing that Ephron magic that made her previous romantic comedies so enchanting. It could be the miscasting of Will Ferrell, or the overly formulaic plot. It never seems to truly commit to the idea that the love story between Isabel and Jack is the real remake of Bewitched and instead of relies on special effects and some minor, silly spell casting/shenanigans to try and make the movie work. Michael Caine’s talent is completely wasted and Steve Carrell, whom I usually adore, shows up briefly as the obnoxious Uncle Arthur… and he really commits to the obnoxious part.

That being said, there were some parts of the movie that I found to be entertaining. Shirley MacLaine makes the most of her under-developed role as Iris/Endora and some of the sight gags are amusing. As usual, the Ephron soundtrack is full of cozy nostalgia, but it’s just not enough to make Bewitched worthy of its material source. I don’t regret watching it (again), but it’s unlikely I’ll return for another repeated viewing. (https://theromcomcatalog.com/review-bewitched-2005/)

Media

Status:

Released

Original Language:

English

Budget:

$85,000,000.00

Revenue:

$131,426,169.00

Keywords

witch
enchantment
falling in love
woman director