mhgwitch

Gorgeously-shot geezer-fest with a lovely colour palette and a soft heart. It tells a simple, quite satisfying story and stars some top British actors - Winstone, Meaney etc. The film is enjoyable and warm- hearted, despite being a bit predictable in its plot. The violence is cartoonish and often funny, and the level of threat is minimal. Self-parodying at times, the film also recalls the Carry On films and sixties classics like Alfie and The Ipcress File (especially in the music - though The Ipcess File is much darker, obviously). The set design is always beautiful, with lots of period detail. There are some nice European locations too. Charming.

This is a movie that many people hated, but if you are prepared to go with the multi-layered fantasy, you might just love it. It's like a love-letter to the original Bewitched TV series, which is why Aunt Clara and Uncle Arthur are there, and why there are some in-jokes that you won't get if you haven't watched much of the series. If you have, however, you'll get it. The film feels at times as fluffy as a musical comedy - indeed it has visual references to several - and at other times like screwball or sitcom. Generically confusing, therefore, but that's part of the fun. Why have a boring linear narrative in a single genre when you can do anything you want to? Lots of analogies between the 'magic' of film and movie-making, and witchcraft itself. Also, no patriarchal nonsense about women having to give up their powers, as with so many witch films. This is a bubbly, not-entirely-consistent roller-coaster ride - give it a try. You might like it.