Review of Bewitched (2005) by Tyler S — 03 Jan 2016

I've probably seen the original Bewitched series when I was younger, but I don't remember much from it, but even without seeing the series I could tell it didn't hold up well as a big screen Bewitched, rather a subpar look on Hollywood banter and a weird storyline and characters that go with it. Bewitched, in a word, is disappointing.

Isabel Bigelow gets the lead role alongside self centered Hollywood has been Jack Wyatt in a TV reboot of the classic 60s sitcom Bewitched. What nobody knows is Isabel really is a witch, trying to tackle a newfound love for her cast member.

For fans of the Bewitched series, prepare to be majorly disappointed. Instead of a modern day reboot with our classic characters, we're treated to more of the Hollywood behind the scenes lifestyle, concerned about new characters instead of TV fan favorites. Bewitched is a confused film. The characters and humor are off Kidman does a good job in her performance but her character starts off especially bland and normal. I always tend to like Will Ferrell and I can't lie that I still liked him in this, albeit a little goofier and surreal than his typical characters. Most characters don't even make a difference and aren't even funny, such as Isabel's father, played by Michael Caine. His sole purpose to disapprove of things that never escalate, he's pretty much just there because, hey, we got Michael Caine to agree to be in this. The humor is primarily goofy and overdone. The story is a typical and dragged out love story that bears resemblances to the original Bewitched, albeit in a charming real life sense. The film would be better off like The Brady Bunch Movie was - using characters we all know and love is why we want to see the film, instead we are treated to a Hollywood memoir that feels personal at times. It's a disappointing and stupid move not to use traits from the show but instead small resemblances. Bewitched fails to deliver and is disappointing to fans, even with an ahead of its time cast of comedians (Ferrell, Carell, Colbert, etc.).