by SARAH ROWLAND

Nicole Kidman doesn't just wiggle her cute little nose in Bewitched; she shimmies her bony Aussie ass for all it's worth as well. Naturally, the Academy Award winning actress keeps her clothes on during these scenes. Her co-star Will Ferrell, on the other hand, bares it all in what is one of the funniest moments in this hit-but-mostly-miss comedy.

After more than a decade and several screen writers, the powers that be finally decided on director Nora Ephron (Sleepless in Seattle) and the following premise: Kidman plays Isabel, a sheltered witch who craves true romance with a mortal - one that doesn't require love potions, hexes or spells. Whilst in the process of kicking her tricks, her nose catches the eye of washed-up movie star Jack Wyatt (Ferrell). He's just signed on to play Darren in an updated version of the titular '60s sitcom - under the condition that the producers cast a no-name for the role of Samantha. This way, he won't have to compete for top-billing. With a little begging from Jack, Isabel agrees to come in for a screen test, but only because she has a huge, heart-thumping crush on the egocentric yet charming actor, who, unbeknownst to Isabel, has become the joke of Hollywood.

Sounds worse than it is.

Kidman is actually quite adorable as the love-struck sorceress, desperate to trade in her broom for a groom. Ferrell, however, doesn't get nearly enough screen time to show off his self-deprecating sketch comedy style. But when he does, he takes full advantage and brings the house down. In one scene within a scene, a scorned Isabel resorts back to her Wiccan ways by making Jack screw up his lines.

Unfortunately, scenes like those are few and far between a lot of embarrassing filler, such as the film's weakest sequence: the falling-in-love musical montage, in which Isabel and Jack sneak on to their set to frolic in their new-found love. Ferrell scrambles to whip out some funny dance moves here and Kidman tries to raise her cute quotient by showing the world that she's one Chanel model humble enough to make kooky faces. But this scene inevitably falls flat and leaves you cringing for both actors.

The supporting cast is hit-or-miss as well. Michael Caine outclasses everyone as Isabel's father, Nigel, a womanizing warlock who makes the mistake of putting the moves on Endora (Shirley MacLaine.) And God bless that crazy old battleaxe - MacLaine really has no humility, which makes seeing her ham it up in all those gaudy Technicolor gowns all the more entertaining. We even get a few laughs here and there as Endora sabotages any chance of Nigel getting laid by another woman again. But Jason Schwartzman tries a little too hard as Jack's weasel manager and the same goes for Steve Carell, who plays the flamboyant, shit-disturbing Uncle Arthur.

In short, this brainless stargazer is fun to watch in a few parts, but overall, it doesn't cast a strong enough spell to keep mere mortals entranced.

Bewitched opens Friday, June 24

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