The Witches Review: 4 Ups & 6 Downs

Ups...

4. Anne Hathaway Goes Full-Ham As The Grand High Witch

If there's any single reason to watch this new take on The Witches, it is unquestionably Anne Hathaway's totally bonkers, go-for-broke performance as the Grand High Witch.

Though very much indebted to Anjelica Huston's legendary performance in the original film - enough that at times it feels like a straight-up impersonation - Hathaway's clearly having a ton of fun snarling and gesturing for the cheap seats.

Despite her performance being constantly compromised by intrusive visual effects, she owns the film every moment she's in it, and really represents the only significant aspect of the project viewers are likely to remember for long.

She's battling the tepid script as is everyone else, but acquits herself well in a thankless role, even if she can't hope to match the sexy-scary brilliance of Huston's prior performance.