The ads of the new Nicole Kidman and Will Farrell vehicle are clear to point out that the film BEWITCHED is not a remake of the original 60’s TV sitcom series but a romantic comedy based on the original idea. So, writers Nora Ephron (herself the queen of romances with hits like SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE and WHEN HARRY MET SALLY) and sister Delia pen the idea of an arrogant washed-up actor Jack Wyatt (Ferrell perhaps playing himself) redoing the series with a newcomer, Isabel (Kidman) who just happens to be a real life witch.

She yearns for a normal life, gets the part of Sam and falls in love with Jack. This plain story is juiced up with characters like Isabel’s womanizing father (Michael Caine), the actress playing Endora (Shirley MacLaine), and a host of others, most of them forgettable, especially wasted being Waytt’s agent and sidekick Jason Schwartzman (I HEART HUCKABEES).

One can quickly tell that BEWITCHED fails as a film when the TV series played during the film arouses more interest than the romance between the two leads. In fact, the only times the film light up is when the original score of the TV series is heard on the soundtrack. In terms of continuity, the filmmakers do not appear too concerned.  Bicycles near trailers disappear from one scene to the next as do people besides the restaurant/swimming pool.  Camera placement is questionable at best. There is an odd overhead shot of a pool only for the camera to descend once again to a completely different scene with the same location.

Nicole Kidman is not a comedic actress. She fares best in dramatic roles such as Virginia Woolf (her Oscar winning performance) in THE HOURS as or in films like TO DIE FOR and DOGVILLE. She occasionally gets overlooked as when she appeared next to Renee Zellweger in COLD MOUNTAIN. The trouble with her in BEWITCHED is that she plays Elizabeth Montgomery playing Samantha Stephens rather than Samantha. As Isabel, the character appears too confident from start to finish for a witch trying to assimilate into human society. Being redone as a romantic comedy instead of a sitcom, a heavy burden of the film’s success also hinges on the male lead Will Farrell.  Again, 5 minutes of Ferrell is sufficient to irritate less annoy quite the few viewers. It does not help that Ferrell has been in almost every comedy under the sun, this year from Woody Allen’s MELINDA AND MELINDA to the recent KICKING AND SCREAMING.  Worst still, it is hardly believable that anyone, let alone a sorceress who can have anyone she wants, fall in love with an obnoxious, child-like arrogant recently divorced actor like Jack Wyatt.  Jack’s attraction – being able to sweat as a pig – is probably the film’s only ironic joke.

On the positive side, director Ephron constrains the CGI effects. The supporting cast is largely marvelous from Shirley MacLaine and Michael Caine who play new roles to the cameos who play staples (Steve Carell as Paul Lynde/Uncle Arthur) of the original BEWITCHED series. On the double negative side, the obvious product placements such as Caine appearing as the vegetable green giant or the new VW conjured up in the garage is downright more annoying than having ads play prior to any movie.

No spell cast can keep this BEWITCHED from being even remotely amusing.