bewitched

There was a time when film adaptations of old television shows were funny...or at least they
attempted to be. Films like “The Beverly Hillbillies” and “Charlie’s Angels” wisely spoofed their
sources. The problem is now all Hollywood does for television adaptations is to satirize the source.
The formula for a successful television adaptation is to simply make fun of it. Take “Starsky &
Hutch” for example. Thoroughly mediocre.

Thankfully “Bewitched” saw the error of others’ ways and became something original instead. Fans
of the television series may be disappointed to know that the movie is not the show reincarnated in
any form, but the risk was worth it. This movie is funny and it works.

Will Ferrell plays Jack Wyatt, a Hollywood actor who’s on the downswing after a string of bad
movies. He’s offered the role of Darren in a high profile remake of the television show,
“Bewitched.” His ego demands that Darren is the only character in the show, so he orders the
production team to find an unknown to play the witch wife, Samantha.

Nicole Kidman plays Isabel Bigelow, a real witch who moves to Los Angeles to try and make it as a
normal person without the use of magic. Michael Caine plays her warlock father, who wants her to
forget the whole business.

One fateful trip to the bookstore and Jack sees Isabel there, wiggling her nose just like Samantha in
the original series. He influences her to take the role in the show, not knowing she’s a real witch.
She’s smitten with him for being so normal and troubled but gets ticked when she discovers that
she’s just a prop in the series and simply being used to further Jack’s career. Out comes some
serious anger magic and everyone’s lives are turned upside down. Double, double, toil and
trouble.

Kidman is adorable in this role, a far cry from her other witch in “Practical Magic.” This story is
pleasantly lighthearted and Kidman provides the perfect persona. She’s innocent and naïve, but
assertive and mature. Ferrell is his usual crazy self, but without the random frivolity of “Anchorman”
or “Old School.” There are some serious themes about relationships and love threaded into the
comedy. Watch for them.

Director Nora Ephron and the writers have handled this one cleverly. The show is watched often by the characters in the film as references for their
performances, however the story is wholly original at first. Slowly, the characters unwittingly find their lives mimicking the television show, but without overtly
alluding to it in the dialogue. It’s a subtle development that will please the observing fans.

Seamless and economically used special effects add to the film’s overall flavor. Fortunately, this movie is not about magic. It’s about acceptance on a serious
level and laughs on the lighter side. The plot moves in a romantic comedy fashion, but the magic and the intertwining of the old television show keep it
interesting. Side characters like Caine and Shirley MacLaine give the film interesting subplots, while the story satirizes Hollywood instead of “Bewitched.”

The only problem with the film is a random cameo by Steve Carell as the character of Uncle Arthur. He’s a random figure in the plot and his presence is never
validated by the witch characters nor explained by the story. A minor problem seeing as how he’s really amusing and fun to watch.

“Bewitched” sets a new standard for television adaptations by daring to be different. Worth the ticket price.