Bewitched, written by Nora And Delia Ephron, Sol Saks, directed by the former - 6 out of 10

Bewitched, written by Nora And Delia Ephron, Sol Saks, directed by the former
6 out of 10


Bewitched, the series, seems to have enchanted audiences in America, as we learn from this failed adaptation, in our parts - where there were alas extremely rare gemstones on the communist, state controlled television - and surely elsewhere, if we have been lucky to get it in such an unlikely place.

Charming, amusing, endearing and sometimes exulting as they were - mind you, this was a desert in terms of entertainment in tragically,  in so many other ways...there was very little food for Heaven's sake - the episodes have not been transformed into something nearly as amusing as the original.
Indeed, the 2005 Bewitched has a pathetic average Metascore of 34!

When you look at the cast, you will surely be amazed by the opinion of the critics...

'It ain't funny' The New Yorker 

'The adaptation goes bizarrely haywire' Variety

And this in spite of the fact that Michael Caine, alas, apparently the only one, gives a solid performance as Nigel Bigelow, father of Isabel aka Samantha aka Nicole Kidman.
In fact, seeing Michael Caine perform might be the only pleasure in the comedy.

The Australian star is an immensely talented performer, and we have seen that from the early work in the fabulous Dead Calm to the climactic The Hours.
In Bewitched though, she seems inadequate, perhaps too Bewitched to see the proper way to handle the script.

Speaking of which, the idea of having a team re-create the film within the film that does the same doesn't strike one as funny.
Will Ferrell as Jack Wyatt aka Darrin is not a success.

Perhaps the only merit in this role is that it does indicate a phenomenon which is widespread in Hollywood and surely in other film rich places, Bollywood and the like.
We learn from the quintessential Adventures in the Screen Trade by the regretted Master William Goldman that most, if not all stars in Hollywood have overbearing, inflated, self centered egos.

One example from that great book is Dustin Hoffman, who has behaved badly, maybe this is a mild term, on the set on Marathon Man, where he kept Roy Scheider waiting for a long time, because he wasn't satisfied with the flashlight which would have diminished his position as a macho man.

In order to enjoy Bewitched in the least, you need to be either Bewitched, stoned or in some other altered condition.

Or better, in a State of Grace, wherein you are exhilarated by everything, including a failed movie.