| Isabel
Bigelow wants to be normal. No more magic. No more twitching. Just plain
and normal. Her desire to be just a normal girl is so strong that she
even moves into the San Fernando Valley (GASP!) So, let's forget the
fact that she used her witchcraft to get the house, grow the blooming
dogwoods, put a brand new car in the garage and furnish her home in
elegantly charming. Finding out that without her witchcraft she needs
a job, Isabel stumbles into the job of a lifetime - as an actress.
Seems that while Isabel
has been planning her normal life, actor Jack Wyatt has been planning
his 
career comeback following a horrifically received performance in the
black and white "Last Year in Katmandu." Egomaniacal to a
tee, Jack is offered (or rather his agent begs) the part of a lifetime,
that of Darren Stephens in an updated version of the beloved Sol Saks
television classic "Bewitched." The next step is simple -
cast Samantha. With his ego in full swing and determined not to be upstaged
by any known actress, Jack demands that an unknown be cast, but that's
not as easy as it looks since there is one crucial talent that the actress
must possess - the ability to twitch her nose like Elizabeth Montgomery
in the TV series. As luck would have it, Jack spies Isabel's twitchy
nose in a bookstore and the rest as they say is history. Or is it?
Written by Nora Ephron,
Delia Ephron and Adam McKay, one would expect a dynamic script tailor
made to the film's principals. After all, Ephron was responsible for
hits like "You've Got Mail" and "Sleepless in Seattle"
while McKay had a comedy blockbuster for penning "Anchorman: The
Legend of Ron Burgundy", a Will Farrell vehicle. Sadly, the finished
product from this team falls short of any expectations of excellence.
What starts out as a smart concept, having the film be about the making
of a new "Bewitched" TV show, slowly spirals into a mish-mosh
of underdeveloped or undeveloped story lines that result in frustration
for the viewer and disappointment at 
the lack of a story arc. Wasted is the sub-plot involving Nigel and
Iris - especially given the talents of Caine and MacLaine. Never fleshed
out, some incredible comedic opportunities were lost with this one.
Also, the "romance" between Jack and Isabel doesn't quite
come full circle and instead relies prim arily on scenes with them acting
as Darren and Samantha, thus giving the illusion that their personal
romance mirrors their tv one. Characters, such as the bumbling Aunt
Clara, are introduced but never brought to fruition and the dialogue,
at times, seems forced and not well thought out.
A big plus though - there
is enough looseness within the script to let Nicole Kidman sparkle with
giddiness and glee - not something we have ever had a chance to see
from her on screen. She is a beguiling delight! With a delectable innocence,
her scenes with Michael Caine, playing up the "Oh, Daddy!"
to the hilt, will connect with every Daddy's Little Girl out there (yes,
even me). The roll of the eyes, the bat of the lashes, the little pout.
Oh yeah - she's got that nailed.
Despite the shortcomings
of the script, the film is cute and entertaining and that is thanks
to Kidman and her chemistry with Will Farrell. An adorable nutball,
Farrell's childlike innocence is like a breathe of fresh air that is
carried by the lilt of Kidman's laughter. When at his most egomaniacal
as Jack, Farrell tends to be annoying, but when the story lets the character
be "free" from his Hollywood mentality, Farrell is at his
most enjoyable. Disappointingly, Shirley MacLaine is wasted in her screen
incarnation of Endora. The only possible casting choice for this unforgettable
character, MacLaine's screen time is minimal. As to be expected though,
she does make the most of that time, giving us an over-the-top performance
that would rival that of the original Endora , Agnes Moorhead. Likewise,
Michael Caine's Nigel gets lost in the shuffle and seems to be merely
a conduit for Kidman's one-liners.
Heather Burns, one of the
most under-rated supporting actresses out there, gives a nice turn as
production assistant Nina while Jason Schwartzman as Jack's agent Ritchie
gives further evidence of his chameleon-like ability to transform into
any character. Richard Kind and Amy Sedaris are dead on as nosey neighbors
Abner and Gladys Kravitz while Steve Carell is a hoot as the late Paul
Lynde playing Uncle Arthur.
Directed by Nora Ephron
as well, despite its shortcoming, there is a niceness that pervades
the film that helps compensate for the deficiencies in the script (which
in themselves leave you yearning for a sequel). And although Ephron
ultimately turns the film over to the development of the Jack and Isabel
romance, it's a bit too late for romantic believability and at the same
time misses out by ignoring the "making of a tv show within the
film" concept. Where the film does excel, however, is with the
mix of original "Bewitched" black & white TV footage interlaced
with present day. It is especially effective as a tool for Isabel to
connect with the real "Samantha" and not only pays homage
to Elizabeth Montgomery, but provides a solid anchor for the film as
a whole.
Kudos go to the technical
excellence of the film. Shot in and around Culver City and at The Culver
Studios and Sony, familiar Culver City landmarks (including one of our
City buses) pop up all around. And thanks to "Spider-Man 2"
production designer, Neil Spisak, every scene is picture perfect. Hats
off to the special effects and visual effects teams at Sony for their
magic. From Endora's puff of smoke to Aunt Clara's inimitable brand
of witchcraft to the wink of a Liz Montgomery Samantha doll, the crew
completely captured the magical essence of the TV show (which, of course,
is what everyone wants to see!)
Fifteen years in the making,
despite its faults, "Bewitched" is a film not to be missed.
From the twitch of Nicole's nose to the comedically appropriate soundtrack
(like "Dong Dong, the Witch is Dead" from that other famous
Culver City made movie), there is a nostalgic magic that is, let's face
it - simply bewitching! Witches Honor!
Nicole Kidman: Isabel Bigelow/Samantha
Will Farrell: Jack Wyatt/Darren Shirley MacLaine: Iris Smythson/Endora
Michael Caine: Nigel Bigelow
Directed by Nora Ephron.
Written by Nora Ephron, Delia Ephron and Adam McKay. Rated PG-13. (102
min)
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