Bewitched

Review by Clint Morris

More and more homeowners seem to be falling for the 'feature wall' idea when painting or re-painting the interior of their new or renovated abode.

A feature wall stands-out, it's something unique and against the other walls it's a funky contrast. Most of the time they work out great - but sometimes, the idea of one is more attractive than the finished product.

Bewitched is a feature wall - unique because it's unlike everything else, but in desperate need of another coat...

One must first award points to director Nora Ephron (You've got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle) - she's steered off the conventional highway and taken a far less travelled route with this movie.

The TV show-turned-movie is as much of a regular at the multiplex these days as steep soda, so it's appreciably welcome to see she's injected something new into the modus operandi.

Fledgling movie star Jack Wyatt (Will Ferrell) has been roped into starring in a revamped TV version of "Bewitched". Unfortunately, he's having trouble finding a co-star - or rather, someone to stand in the shadows while he hogs the lens - but real-witch Isabel (Nicole Kidman) has just hit town.

One thing leads to another and the slightly dim-ish Isabel finds herself an unlikely TV star. And thanks to her, Wyatt learns a thing or two about himself - in turn, and not surprisingly, falling for his co-star's nose wiggle.

Bewitched, the movie, sounds like it would've been a great pitch. Unfortunately, it's only a so-so movie - submissively funny, sparingly written, and a little monotonous after the first hour. Kidman is an absolutely divine (not to mention, cute) proxy for Elizabeth Montgomery's Samantha - as Isabel, and Ferrell is his usual pleasantly goofy self as Jack/Darrin, but there's not a lot more to recommend about it.

From the wasted supporting players (Shirley MacLaine, Michael Caine, Steve Carell) to the many missed opportunities the film's theme could offer, it is merely a cute distraction from the norm.

As great an idea as a feature wall is, sometime's it's better to leave it the way it is. Thankfully, there are a couple of major artists holding the rollers though, in Kidman and Ferrell, so it's still reasonably streak-free.

3 out of 5

Bewitched
Australian release: Thursday the 7th of July, 2005
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Will Ferrell, Shirley MacLaine, Michael Caine, Jason Schwartzman, Kristin Chenoweth, Heather Burns, Jim Turner, Steve Carell.
Director: Nora Ephron.
Website: Click here.

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