Release Date: June 24th, 2005, by Columbia Pictures. The Cast: Nicole Kidman, Will Ferrell, Shirley MacLaine, Michael Caine, Jason Schwartzman Directed by Nora Ephron. BASIC PREMISE: A producer accidentally casts Isabel (Kidman), a real witch, to play the role of Samantha opposite Darren (Ferrell) in a remake of "Bewitched". ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: Kidman and Ferrell are great together, but the real comedians are the supporting cast members, especially Shirley MacLaine and Michael Caine. Steve Carrel is also hilarious in a cameo. The special effects are superb from the first scene to the last and the settings well-designed. The plot is very simple and straightforward, except for one very inventive scene where Isabel uses her powers to rewind a few scenes to change a crucial moment. The most hilarious scene is a dinner table where she also uses her magic powers in quite inventive ways. Unfortunately, more scenes like these are missing from the movie to make you do anything more than giggle. Everything else just feels stale and even a little boring at times. However, thanks to a wonderful supporting cast, it is a decent form of summer entertainment. SPIRITUAL VALUE: There's not much to think about because the script doesn't provide anything insightful or thought-provoking. None of the characters feel real whether they are a witch or a human being. On a positive note, the entire movie does have a cheerful, playful tone and the ending is satisfying. INSULT TO YOUR INTELLIGENCE: Not enough use of Isabel's magical powers despite that they are integral to her character and, for that matter, for the entire movie itself. NUMBER OF TIMES I CHECKED MY WATCH: 3 THE BOTTOM LINE: A mildly entertaining summer movie with great special effects, a few hilarious scenes, and a terrific supporting cast but it all drags down with a weak script that doesn't bring the main characters to life. RECOMMENDED WAY TO WATCH: Movie Theater (2nd Run) Main Page Alphabetical Menu The "B" Menu ______________________________________________________ |