The Goodwitch's Family - Una nuova vita per Cassie

Change is in the air in Middleton. Cassie's running for mayor as her long-lost cousin Abigail shows up. Abigail is very similar to Cassie, at least in terms of her manner and mysteriousness. The scenes of the two of them subtly sparring are very well done. While Cassie's preoccupied with her campaign, Abigail creates problems among Cassie's family and friends. Meanwhile a proposed annexation of the town has Cassie and Jake on opposite sides, at least until Jake looks into the matter further.

This is the first movie in the series where Catherine Bell's attempts at improving perfection result in noticeable differences to her appearance. Cheek injections and an upper lip that barely moves are the two most distracting changes. Performance-wise, she's fine in this although the supporting cast and the guest-star steal her spotlight most of the time. Grandpa George is curiously missing from this one. It's a really good entry in the series, possibly the best of all the sequels.

In the fourth instalment of The Good Witch series Cassie's not so nice long-lost cousin comes to visit. Her character adds some new spark to a cast that seems to currently be going through an awkward phase. Their character development in this movie just wasn't working for me unfortunately. And even the storyline was a bit non-existent.

This movie doesn't feel as charming as the others and is somewhat transitional in the storyline. It's just nowhere near as exciting. Although it wasn't the greatest, I am still looking forward to watching the rest of the series. Hopefully they can recreate the charm of the original movies because it really is a lovely movie series.

Every Good Witch movie introduces a new stranger in town to stir things up. In this case, it's Cassie's heretofore unknown cousin, Abigail.

Cassie and Jake are now married, and Cassie is stepmother to Jake's two teenagers.

The town is divided over a proposed bridge, which the men (particularly Mayor Tinsdale) favor, expecting it to bring prosperity, and the women (led by Martha Tinsdale) oppose, fearing it will bring destruction (of the town's old-style charm). As the mayor's term in office is expiring, the women prevail upon Cassie to run for mayor, and with Martha's support, to lead the opposition to the bridge.

Cousin Abigail's particular witchy talent is in the casting of spells. Deserted by her father when she was just 13, she seems determined to hex the Russell household by whatever means possible, for reasons known but to her, including charming Deputy Derek Sanders to run for mayor against Cassie. (Derek's baker girlfriend from the previous movie has mysteriously moved out of town, leaving him susceptible to Abigail's bewitching influence.)

Of the four movies in the series to date, this is the edgiest and most threatening in terms of conflict, and viewers' displeasure is reflected (as of this writing) in a marginally lower average rating than all previous installments.

So, who will win the mayoral race? And will the bridge be built, or not? What is Abigail's motive? And after all this turmoil, will Middleton ever be peaceful again?

But more importantly, will there be another Good Witch movie? If so, what will be in store for "The Good Witch's Family"? Have we seen the last of the Tinsdales? And what new stranger will bring trouble to the town?

This 4th Good Witch movie has badly fallen behind and pales in comparison to it's predecessors.

Now to be clear The Good Witch movies are hardly aimed at me, I'm not the demographic but when I watched the first film I found myself actually bewitched *Pun intended* and got aboard the bandwagon.

The movies are charming, sweet and utterly harmless family entertainment.

For those unaware they tell the story of Cassie Nightingale as she arrives at a new town and the adventures she gets up to. Throughout its teased that she is a witch and uses magical powers but everything is so subtle that truth be told the existence of her having any powers is always questionable.

This fact I find very endearing, it's not as blatant as the rest and plays more on her efforts not her waving a magic wand.

This 4th movie has the charm but it simply wasn't entertaining. It's all about a long lost cousin of Cassie's appearing and causing trouble with her family.

The movie isn't bad, it's just very dull compared to the previous efforts.

The Good:

Charming

The Bad:

So cheesy!

I finally got around to watching this one and I have to agree with most the other reviews: boy has Chris Potter become portly or is Jake fearing for his life in peaceful Middleton, Canada and wearing 3 bulletproof vests under his jacket!? If he doesn't watch it, Chris will soon catch up to Catherine Disher! Also he could use some botox or filler. Last time I saw him in interviews he looked a lot less wrinkled than this. Did he miss his injection appointments? Anyway he sure wasn't in the movie much at all this time and, again: real hard buying him as love interest or even straight. He sure doesn't show much affection in his eyes to his now wife. It's called acting, Chris, you used to know how to do this, what happened? Equally horrid is Catherine Bell's face: she's packing even more silicone in her cheeks than in movie 1. In fact she could play Maleficent and not need external prosthesis due that her silicone is stuffed deep below her skin! Her hair is still as flat and dingy as ever.

I can't add much more than the other reviewers have already said, except Chris Potter needs to stop leaving the police force (hello throw back to KFTLC packing his little box of stuff) and the storyline was horrid and did not move that much at all. Also whoever played Abigail was good, and she was a looker, a little like Megan Fox's little sister, a nice contrast to Catherine Bell's plastic face. OK so, how about some tips for the production to improve on the next film?

1. Have Chris Potter hit the gym and give him some DHEA, green tea and/or body building & fat burning amino acids. No one expects him to look 35 any more but come on! And get some romance scenes going.

2. MORE MAGIC! Enough of the wishy-washy is she or is she not? The title says "Witch" not "Pseudo New Ager Poser". Get some major magic tools, a wand, a crystal ball that she actually uses, you get the gist. Browse witchcraft websites and get this going. Sure keep it family but make it more hardcore so far as the witch/magic part is concerned. We could have used a close up on those stones (amethysts?) that Martha remarked she was selling for 25c. Give us close ups on the magical tools! And a full-on séance or spell casting scene would be tops! The voodoo dolls were a nice touch except you didn't do enough with them. SET THE MAGICAL MOOD!

3. Get Catherine Bell some decent clothes! No one expects her to dress like Dynasty but enough with the dull garb. Give the woman some color, hot pink, royal blue, bright red, fiery orange, bright green, titillating teal or turquoise, sequined purple etc. The half cloak she wore almost went there but it was dull gray plaid with a terrible cut above her rear. The red lining was a nice touch, more of that. Think magic: satin, sequins, glitter strategically placed, not overbearing would be cool. And do something with her hair. Extensions will give her much needed volume. Maybe a few curls too, like a lioness wig.

4. Bring back the old shop, make it cozy & witchy. Bring back Grey House. Make it more eerie. I'm thinking ghosts, sure go with are there or are there not, but get some good spooky music to go along. And bring back the old couple if the actors would (Grandpa).

5. Write a story that is not a yawn-fest this time. Can't help you with that except for the ghosts idea, no need to pay me royalties, it's on me. Hire the writers from story 1 and take it from there. Then your ratings will improve or else this series is going downhill faster than Obama's presidency. That's it.