The Good Witch's Family

Did You Know?

• The film aired in Spain as El hechizo de la dama gris (The spell of the Lady Grey).
• It aired in the United Kingdom on August 5, 2011, before its US premiere.
• In Italy, the film was released as Una nuova vita per Cassie (A new life for Cassie).

Plot

Cassie Nightingale lives in the small town of Middleton with her husband, police chief Jake Russell, and his children Brandon and Lori. Cassie’s first cousin, Abigail, is evicted from her home; Cassie, who has never met Abigail, invites her to visit after connecting online. At the police station, Jake learns that Mayor Tom Tinsdale supports building a bridge connecting Middleton to a neighboring city, while the mayor’s wife, Martha, leads opposition.

At an opposition meeting, Cassie is nominated to run for mayor and asks Martha to run her campaign; Cassie later tells Jake, who does not reveal the mayor and his wife are at odds. Abigail arrives as Cassie plans Lori’s Sweet 16 party. Deputy Derek Sanders tells Abigail he agrees with the mayor about the bridge, but Abigail tells Jake she opposes it and hopes Cassie wins to stop it. Derek decides to run for mayor, and Cassie learns she and Jake have differing views.

Abigail gives Lori a love potion to gain the affections of Brandon’s friend Wes, causing chaos. Cassie figures out Abigail’s involvement. Jake is fired when Derek’s campaign speech is stolen, as he disagrees with the mayor and is the prime suspect. Abigail plots spells using voodoo dolls.

Recognition

The Oklahoman noted that in her recurring role as Casandra Nightingale in the Good Witch film series, it is no stretch to say Catherine Bell has cast a spell over viewers. When Bell signed for the fifth film, the fourth was just entering production. Kevin McDonough of South Coast Today admitted to being vaguely fascinated by the Good Witch movies and the lead character, and being bowled over by their banality. He remarked on the predictable plots and dialogue with a false soap-opera quality, and wrote of Bell’s acting that if she were any more placid, she would be in a coma.

McDonough granted that the fourth film included some complications but complained that the plots do not matter as much as Cassie’s exasperating unexcitability, concluding the film seemed adapted from a comic book called Sabrina, the Medicated Witch. Matthew Knight received a 2012 Young Artist Awards nomination for Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special - Supporting Young Actor for his role as Brandon Russell.