Bewitched [WS]

Director: Nora Ephron, Penny Marshall, Douglas Wick, Lucy Fisher

Overview

Nora Ephron directed and co-wrote this updated adaptation of a classic situation comedy that also casts a satirical eye on the entertainment industry. Jack Wyatt (Will Ferrell) is a movie star whose career has been going into a slow and steady decline. Desperate for a project that will give his reputation a jump start, Jack agrees to star in a film version of the once-popular television series Bewitched as hapless hubby Darrin Stephens, under the condition that an unknown actress be cast as the female lead so he won't be upstaged. After auditioning dozens of women who fail to make the grade, Jack meets lovely and charming Isabel Bigelow (Nicole Kidman), and is immediately certain she's the perfect choice to play witch-turned-housewife Samantha. However, there's one thing neither Jack nor the producers of the film know -- Isabel really is a witch, and while she's been trying to get along without her powers to better fit in among mortals, she will use her special talents when need be. The film also stars Michael Caine as Isabel's father, Nigel, Shirley MacLaine as Iris Smythson (the actress hired to play Endora), and Jason Schwartzman as Jack's agent.

Product Details

Release Date:	10/03/2006
UPC:	0043396102101
Original Release:	2005
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	SONY PICT
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:42:00
Sales rank:	2,039

Special Features

Closed Caption;Deleted scenes; Director's commentary; Behind-the-scenes featuretes; Witch vision trivia track; And more

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Nicole Kidman	Isabel Bigelow/Samantha
Will Ferrell	Jack Wyatt/Darrin
Shirley MacLaine	Iris Smythson/Endora
Michael Caine	Nigel Bigelow
Jason Schwartzman	Ritchie
Kristin Chenoweth	Maria Kelly
Heather Burns	Nina
Jim Turner	Larry
Stephen Colbert	Stu Robison
David Alan Grier	Jim Fields
Michael Badalucco	Joey Props
Carole Shelley	Aunt Clara
Jarrad Paul	Valet
Steve Carell	Uncle Arthur
Katie Finneran	Sheila Wyatt
James Lipton	Himself
Conan O'Brien	Himself
Amy Sedaris	Gladys Kravitz
Richard Kind	Abner Kravitz
Ed McMahon	Himself
Mo Rocca	Reporter
Nick Lachey	Vietnam Soldier
P.J. Byrne	Writer
Carol Androsky	Realtor,Realtor
Annie Mumolo	Bed, Bath and Beyond Shopper
Andrew Friedman	Bed, Bath and Beyond Shopper
Clay Bravo	Coffee Shop Waitress
George Fenton	Composer
Heather Freedman	Beverly Hills Hotel Hostess
Heather Maristella	Beverly Hills Hotel Hostess
Jonathan T. Floyd	Cable Man
Alison MacInnis	Auditioning Actress
Bridget Brno	Auditioning Actress
Dana Daurey	Auditioning Actress
Dorie Barton	Auditioning Actress
Jennifer Elise Cox	Auditioning Actress
Katharine Carroll	Auditioning Actress
Laura Sorenson	Auditioning Actress
Brittany Krall	Auditioning Actress
Ken Hudson Campbell	Writer,Writer
Dawn Ashley Cook	Auditioning Actress
Abbey McBride	Auditioning Actress
Julia Schuler	Auditioning Actress
Roxanne Beckford	Francine
Valerie Azlynn	Gorgeous Model
Jennifer Hall	Book Soup Cafe Waitress
Joe Zymblosky	Randall
J.J. Sacha	Voice-Over Announcer
Susan Chuang	Press Conference Reporter
Jordan Black	Press Conference Photographer
Jason George	E! Anchor
Wendi McLendon-Covey	E! Anchor
Hugh Davidson	Network Executive
Julie Claire	Hillary
Terry Savage	Dinner Party Guest
Dianne Dreyer	Production Staff Assistant
Kate Walsh	Sexy Waitress
Victor Williams	Police Officer
Liesel Staubitz	Trick-or-Treater
Ruby Rose Skotchdopole	Trick-or-Treater
Molly Gordon	Trick-or-Treater

Technical Credits

Nora Ephron

Sol Saks

Nora Ephron	Screenwriter,Screenwriter
Penny Marshall	Producer
Douglas Wick	Producer
Steven H. Berman	Producer,Executive Producer
Bobby Cohen	Executive Producer
James W. Skotchdopole	Executive Producer
Lucy Fisher	Producer
Sol Saks	Screenwriter
Alfonso Alpuerto	Special Effects
Ron Bochar	Sound Effects
Bill Burns	Sound Effects
Dennis Drummond	Sound Effects,Sound Effects,Sound Effects
Eliza Coleman	Stunts

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Bewitched
1. Start [:00]
2. "I Want To Be Like Everyone Else" [:00]
3. The Jackerator [:00]
4. Strange New World [:00]
5. Sweet, Unkempt & Troubled [:00]
6. Suddenly Samantha [:00]
7. Maria [:00]
8. Meet The Cast [:00]
9. Day 1 [:00]
10. "What Would Samantha Do?" [:00]
11. Dog Day [:00]
12. Daddy's Crush [:00]
13. Aunt Clara [:00]
14. The Love Hex [:00]
15. Something Terrible [:00]
16. Jack Stops By [:00]
17. Rewind [:00]
18. Test Scores [:00]
19. Restart [:00]
20. "Magic" [:00]
21. Something Going On [:00]
22. Party At Jacks [:00]
23. "I'm A Witch" [:23]
24. Recasting [3:04]
25. Going Home [3:18]
26. Uncle Arthur's Advice [4:37]
27. Chasing Isabel [2:04]
28. Caught Between Two Worlds [4:14]

Menu

Disc #1 -- Bewitched
Play Movie
Languages
Audio
English
French
Subtitles
English
French
Subtitles: Off
Play Movie
Scene Selection
Special Features
Commentary With Director Nora Ephron: On
Commentary With Director Nora Ephron: Off
Witch Vision Trivia Track
Deleted Scenes
Play All
Writers' Conference
Barbershop Quartet
T.V. Proposal Scene
Isabel Gets Mad [Extended Version]
2nd Colonnade Scene
The Wedding
Featurettes
Casting A Spell: Making Bewitched
Bewitched: Star Shots
Play All
Nicole Kidman As Isabel Bigelow
Will Ferrell As Jack Wyatt
Shirley MacLane As Iris
Michael Caine As Nigel
Kristen Chenoweth As Maria
Jason Schwartzman As Richie
David Alan Grier As Jim
Stephen Colbert As Stu
Why I Loved Bewitched
Bewitched Trivia Game
Previews
Lords of Dogtown
Stealth
The Legend of Zorro
Rent
Bewitched TV
Fun With Dick And Jane
The Da Vinci Code
Jiminy Click In Lalawood
Open Season
Zathura
The Pink Panther
Play Movie
Previews
Lords of Dogtown
Stealth
The Legend of Zorro
Rent
Bewitched TV
Fun With Dick And Jane
The Da Vinci Code
Jiminy Click In Lalawood
Open Season
Zathura
The Pink Panther

Editorial Reviews

Not just a remake of the classic TV sitcom, this ambitious and generally amusing spin-off uses the same basic premise while adding meta-spin on things. It begins with fading movie star Jack Wyatt (Will Ferrell) reluctantly accepting the role of Darrin in an updated version of the ‘60s TV show. Along with his somewhat oily agent (Jason Schwartzman), Jack attempts to turn the project into a showcase for himself and therefore insists on casting a total unknown as Samantha. Enter Isabel Bigelow (Nicole Kidman), a real-life witch who’d love nothing better than to leave her past and powers behind, much to the chagrin of her suave, sarcastic father (Michael Caine). The impossibility of doing so animates much of the plot, during the course of which Isabel rather improbably falls for the egotistical, too-clever-by-half actor. Kidman makes a charming witch and a perfect foil for Ferrell, whose improvisational antics steal the show (and continue to get laughs with alternate takes played over the end credits). The script, written by director Nora Ephron with her sister Delia, is a bit uneven and offers more opportunities for Ferrell than for Kidman. But it gives some pungent lines to supporting players Caine and Shirley MacLaine, who’s a hoot as the superannuated spell caster hired to play Endora. Best of all may be Steve Carell, who channels Paul Lynne and plays it to the hilt as Uncle Arthur. One can’t help but feel that Ephron and company failed to realize the concept’s full potential, but on the whole Bewitched works wonderfully well as a comedic showcase for its personable stars.