Bewitched (film)
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| Bewitched | |
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| Directed by | Nora Ephron |
| Produced by | Lucy Fisher Penny Marshall Douglas Wick |
| Written by | Delia Ephron Nora Ephron |
| Starring | Nicole Kidman Will Ferrell Shirley MacLaine Michael Caine Kristin Chenoweth Heather Burns Jason Schwartzman David Alan Grier Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell |
| Music by | George Fenton |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
| Release date(s) | June 24, 2005 |
| Running time | 102 minutes |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $80 million (USD) (estimated) |
| IMDb profile | |
Bewitched is a 2005 comedy film produced by Columbia Pictures and inspired by the classic television series of the same name (produced by Columbia's Screen Gems television studio, now Sony Pictures Television). The film was released in the United States and Canada on June 24, 2005. It was written, produced, and directed by Nora Ephron and featured as co-stars Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell. It was rated PG-13 in the US, and PG in the UK and Australia. The film began filming in 2004 and was finished by early 2005.
According to the teaser, it was originally scheduled for release in July, but instead, it opened on June 24, 2005.[1]
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[edit] Plot
The film is not an adaptation of the television series, but more of a homage. It is about a witch named Isabel Bigelow (Kidman) who wants to give up magic and have a normal life, despite her magic-loving father's (Michael Caine) warnings that she cannot live without it. She meets a failing movie star named Jack Wyatt (Ferrell) who wants to find an unknown actress to play a witch — and his wife — in a TV show, a modern adaptation of the classic TV show Bewitched, a ploy whereby the egocentric actor can eclipse his co-star and claim the spotlight entirely. Part of this is perpetrated by his agent (Jason Schwartzman), who is just as obnoxious as Jack.
When she becomes more popular than he is and unintentionally takes the spotlight away, the pompous, self-centered Jack decides to downplay her role and make the show focus on Darrin (thus garnering the audience's attention). Isabel becomes angry when she finds out (since he told her during her auditions that he "needed her") and furiously tells him that he is a jerk. The harsh words, strangely enough, appeal to Jack who never had anyone speak their mind to him before, especially his ex-wife (who he claimed preferred to just lock him out of the house). He begins to give her bigger roles and the two begin to fall in love. Isabel feels guilty for hiding her powers from Jack however, and shows him her powers. He becomes upset that she might be using magic to manipulate his emotions and make him pregnant and leaves her. Devastated, Isabel decides to return home, where Jack is told by Uncle Arthur (Steve Carell) she must stay for 100 years once she returns. Jack realizes that he loves Isabel for real after all and tries to find her before she returns home. To his surprise, he finds her at the studio, which she considers her "home". Jack proposes to her and she accepts. Before she accepts, it is revealed that she did not have to remain at her home for 100 years before she could, once again, return.
Meanwhile the "spirits" of the old Bewitched television show work their own magic on Isabel and Jack by ensuring that the couple ends up in a happy union of witch to mortal like on the original series. The home in which Isabel and Jack finally settle in together is numbered "1164" as a nod to the house address from the original TV series: 1164 Morning Glory Circle.
[edit] Production
Amy Sedaris appears at the end of the film as nosey neighbor Gladys Kravitz, the third actress to play this Bewitched character.
Kristin Chenoweth originated the 'Glinda the Good Witch' role in Wicked, the 2003 smash hit Broadway musical about the early years of the witches of Oz. After seeing Chenowith perform, Nicole Kidman recommended her for Nora Ephron's Bewitched film, and thereafter was cast as Isabel's best friend, Maria Kelly.
The film had a notorious post-production period.[2] A number of reshoots took place, many of which went unused, the script was rewritten during production and the ending was changed after production had finished, resulting in more reshoots.
[edit] Reception
The movie was panned by critics,[3] yet earned a world-wide gross of $131,413,159. The Total US Gross was $63,313,159 with International Gross at $68,100,000.
The pairing of Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell earned a Razzie Award for "Worst Screen Couple" in a 2005 film.
[edit] Release
United States Information:
- Release date: June 24, 2005
- DVD & PSP Release Date: October 25, 2005
- VHS Release Date: December 20, 2005
- Running Time: 102 minutes
- Rating: PG-13 for some language including sex and drug references
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Bewitched Official Site
- Bewitched at the Internet Movie Database
- Film Locations
- Movie Project History from a Bewitched fan site
- Nicole Kidman interview for Bewitched
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