Bewitched

[Deleted]

The movie may suck, but Kidman herself has been getting some terrific reviews for her performance from legit sources (Ebert, CNN, New York Times, MSNBC, Newsweek, Boston Globe ect). A lot of the reviews I've read suggest she's the only person who makes the whole enterprise tolerable. Most of the blame is being laid squarely at the feet of Delia Ephron.

Reading Salon.com rip Delia Ephron a new one, while simultaneously praising Kidman's incandescance was pretty funny.

Despite the awful reviews for the film itself, I think Kidman's reputation as a comedic actress may actually have been enhanced by this flick. Now if only she could match those comic skills to a good movie.....

[huntergrayson]

...yes, but asking Hollywood to write a good comedy, much less a good comedy for a 40-year old woman is like, I dunno, asking for something really hard (CTC to "try" Paxil? Oprah to buy a Birkin?). Somehow there's still the notion that comedy is a boy's club and women are only allowed to be funny in mushy romances.

Nice to know the hate isn't overwhelming, Moldy. I don't think Nic is our greatest actress, but she's certainly one of our most interesting, in terms of variety, given her megastar status. (I'm pretty much thinking that almost every actress we have is over-rated -- et tu, Winslet and Blanchett?).

[huntergrayson]

Because Hollywood is so shaken up by a downturn in attendance, the elimination of the midsize movie (25-50 million budget) and the graying of the previous A-List (Mel, Julia, etc), that they would rather remake anything because they feel it's a safer bet. At least it has some name recognition.

I think the stupid thing is to try the "oh, we're so beyond doing a straight remake, so let's meta it up" angle. You can't pretend to be above a remake when you're doing one like this. And you're Nora Ephron, who completely trampled on The Shop Around The Corner. Regardless of how Bewitched fares, I think the dumb sitcom remake pinnacle will be next year with Kate Hudson in I Dream of Jeannie. Gawd.

I should go see this so we can actually chat about the film, shouldn't I?

[Mugsy]

Well, on paper a Brady Bunch movie sounded like the worst idea ever. At the time, TBB was considered the hokiest hoke that ever hoked, and to make a full-length theatrical movie of it seemed so stupid.

However, it worked. It was deliciously self-deprecating, the only way a BB movie could have worked. I don't think most straight tv show remakes work, do they? Charlie's Angels, Starsky and Hutch, and now Dukes of Hazzard. Please.

What I always wondered is why they made such a fuss about Elizabeth Montgomery's ability to twitch her nose. She never twitched her nose; it was always her lips, just like Nicole does. Big deal. I can do that.

I do think Shirley MacLaine is perfectly cast, and I don't really like her that much.

[ahenobarbus]

The Brady Bunch movie worked because it was such a novel approach that it caused you to ignore the fact that the movie wasn't really all that funny.

[pepper67]

::quiet voice:: I liked The Brady Bunch.

On topic, I hope the film does well but I'm not holding my breath. I do think that Shirley McLaine will be fantastic as Endora though. She's nuts enough, after all.

Btw, congratulations, Moldy!

[hobbes]

I think this movie like hot roasted crap, which sucks, because I love me some Will. *looks down at Speaker City t-shirt* I want to support everything he does, but his last two movies...feh. Go back to your Frat Pack, Will!! (Unless it's something such as Elf, which is acceptable).

I, too, like The Brady Bunch. Both movies.

[Bonster]

I saw it. It sucked.

I was excited when I saw that Steve Carell was in it because I think he's hilarious but I actually cringed during his part.

And I also loved the Brady Bunch movies, especially the first one. I thought it was very clever and funny. This movie was neither. JMO of course.

[angel17987]

I loved both Brady Bunch movies too.

Topic: This movie just does not look good at all.

[Deleted]

Loved Nicole but did NOT like the movie! "Bah, humbug" scriptwriting - VERY weak effort for a comedy. I went in expecting a lot more from Farrell - but I don't think he was given much of anything to work with. He had a VERY few scenes that were actually funny, and they only worked - well, because he's Will Farrell. Michael Caine was a charmer as always, but I've never been impressed with MacLaine.