Ah, Rome! The Eternal City, brimming with history, romance... and apparently, teenage witches on a mission. Cast your mind back to 1998. The Spice Girls were probably dominating your portable CD player, dial-up internet screeched its siren song, and for fans of a certain charming sorceress, a special TV movie event was brewing. Forget the usual haunts of Westbridge High; "Sabrina Goes to Rome" whisked us away on a European adventure, offering a feature-length dose of the magic we loved, complete with ancient secrets and, naturally, a talking animal sidekick (though perhaps not the one we entirely expected). It felt like a treat, a bonus episode blown up for a special occasion, beamed directly into our living rooms or, soon after, onto a coveted VHS tape.
### A Magical Roman Holiday
The premise is classic Sabrina, albeit transplanted to sun-drenched Italian streets. Our favourite teenage witch, the ever-effervescent Melissa Joan Hart, arrives in Rome ostensibly for art class, but her real quest involves unlocking the mystery of a 16th-century ancestor, Sophia, also a witch, trapped within an antique locket. To free her, Sabrina must find Sophia's long-lost love. It’s a setup penned by Daniel Berendsen, a writer deeply familiar with the show's universe (he wrote numerous episodes and later created shows like Baby Daddy), ensuring the film felt like a natural, if slightly more expansive, extension of the series. Guiding this Roman romp was director Tibor Takács, a name that might surprise some horror fans, given he previously helmed the much darker, practical-effects-laden cult favourite The Gate (1987). Talk about range! It’s a fun piece of trivia, imagining the director shifting gears from suburban demons to sunlit spellcasting.
The film leverages its setting beautifully. Seeing Sabrina navigate cobblestone streets, ancient ruins, and bustling piazzas, all while trying to keep her magic under wraps (mostly), was a genuine delight. The production actually filmed on location in Rome, lending an authenticity that elevated it beyond typical TV movie backdrops. You could almost feel the Italian sunshine warming your face through the CRT screen. This commitment to place gives the movie a visual charm that holds up surprisingly well, making the adventure feel grander than its small-screen origins might suggest.
### Familiar Faces and a Furry (New) Friend
Melissa Joan Hart, by this point, was Sabrina Spellman. She effortlessly carries the film with the same mix of relatable teen awkwardness and burgeoning magical confidence that made the show such a hit. Her comedic timing remains sharp, and she navigates the light romantic subplot with American photojournalist Paul (Eddie Mills) with predictable but pleasant sweetness. While Paul might not be Harvey Kinkle, Mills makes for an amiable temporary love interest caught up in Sabrina's magical whirlwind.
Of course, it wouldn't be Sabrina without some animal commentary. While Salem Saberhagen (voiced, as always, with perfect sardonic wit by Nick Bakay) does make appearances via magic mirror, the primary sidekick duties fall to Gwen, a British witch cursed into the form of a guinea pig. Voiced by the legendary Tara Strong (then often credited as Tara Charendoff), known for voicing seemingly half of our animated childhoods from Bubbles in The Powerpuff Girls to Timmy Turner in The Fairly Oddparents, Gwen provides a different flavour of banter. Her slightly more frantic energy contrasts nicely with Salem's cool cynicism, even if a talking guinea pig doesn’t quite have the same iconic status. It was a clever way to give Sabrina an on-the-ground companion for her Roman quest.
### Charming Relic or Dated Detour?
Let's be honest, "Sabrina Goes to Rome" wears its late-90s TV movie budget on its sleeve. The special effects are... well, of their time. Think sparkly transitions, slightly unconvincing magical zaps, and transformations that rely more on quick cuts than seamless CGI. But does it matter? Not really. Part of the charm of revisiting these films is embracing those limitations. They felt perfectly adequate, even impressive, back then, fueling our imagination without the pixel-perfect polish of today. The magic feels tangible, practical, fitting the lighthearted tone.
The story itself is fairly straightforward – a quest narrative blended with a gentle romance and the expected fish-out-of-water magical mishaps. There aren’t massive stakes, and the resolution feels comfortably predictable. Yet, it serves its purpose beautifully as an extended episode, offering fans more time with a beloved character in an exciting new environment. It successfully bridges the gap between seasons 2 and 3 of the main show, providing context for Sabrina earning her Witch's License. It proved popular enough to spawn a sequel, Sabrina Down Under (1999), sending our magical heroine even further afield.
Retro Fun Fact: These TV movies were a savvy way for Showtime (who initially aired them) and ABC (the show's network home) to capitalize on the massive popularity of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, giving fans extra content during hiatuses and boosting the brand. They were event television for the show's considerable fanbase.
### The Verdict
"Sabrina Goes to Rome" isn't high art, nor does it pretend to be. It's a warm, fuzzy blanket of late-90s nostalgia, tailor-made for fans of the original series. It delivers exactly what it promises: Sabrina, magic, a picturesque location, light laughs, and a comforting dose of feel-good adventure. Melissa Joan Hart is as watchable as ever, the Roman scenery is a definite plus, and the inclusion of voice-acting royalty Tara Strong adds a fun layer. While the plot is thin and the effects are charmingly dated, its earnestness and connection to a beloved show make it an incredibly pleasant rewatch. If you weren't a fan of the series, this probably won't convert you, but for anyone who spent Friday nights with the Spellman household, it’s like finding a cherished postcard from a fun, slightly goofy, magical vacation.
Rating: 6/10 - A perfectly pleasant and nostalgic trip for fans, buoyed by Hart's charm and the lovely Roman setting, even if it feels very much like the extended TV episode special it is. Its limitations are part of its retro appeal.
It’s a sweet little slice of late-90s TV magic – pop it in (metaphorically speaking, unless you still have that VHS!) when you need a simple, sunny escape back to a time when a trip to Rome just needed a little bit of witchcraft and a talking guinea pig.