Bewitched Review

Let me start off by saying that doing a film version of the classic television show, Bewitched, is a terrible idea. Thankfully this movie didn't do that. This movie serves as more of a tribute to Bewitched while it also fills the bill as a modern romantic comedy with a touch of whimsy added to it. It's no secret that the romantic comedy has never been one of my preferred genres, but every so often I'll come across one worth watching. Bewitched isn't a great film. The characters are never fully developed, the script meanders and there are loose ends that are left untied. But it's clear that the movie is only trying to be light-hearted fun and at that level, it succeeds. The cast works well enough- Nicole Kidman continues to broaden her range (and is much more enjoyable in this comedic effort than in her last. Stepford Wives was awful.) Michael Caine shows up with a solid performance, but what else would you expect really? He's Michael Caine. The film features numerous other strong supporting characters, some of the best played by Amy Sedaris, Jason Schwartzman and three Daily Show correspondents. Of course, as everyone would expect, the real bread and butter of Bewitched is Will Ferrell. Even a slightly more restrained Ferrell is still hilarious. I'm not sure how he does it, but he's able to be over-the-top without becoming annoying. It's a fine line that he's somehow able to walk with complete sobriety. With a flimsy plot, the weight of Bewitched mostly rests on Ferrell's performance and he appears to carry us through with ease. The man is just comedic gold. So in the end, Bewitched is simply a cute movie. I don't know how else to put it- it's the kind of movie you rent on a Wednesday night when you're in the mood for something light and playful. If you're a fan of Will Ferrell's schtick, it's worth checking out at some point on DVD. If you decide to see it in the theatre, get the matinee price.

Torrey's Opinion:
5- Strongly Recommended
4- Recommended
3- A Mixed Bag
2- Sub-par
1- Don't Bother

Random Related Fact: Cast members Kristin Chenoweth and Carole Shelley are also performers in the Broadway musical Wicked.