THE STORY – Two witches must confront the dark curse that threatens to unravel their family once and for all.
THE CAST – Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Joey King, Lee Pace, Xolo Maridueña, Solly McLeod, Dianne Wiest & Stockard Channing
THE TEAM – Susanne Bier (Director), Akiva Goldsman, Georgia Pritchett & Kelly Marcel (Writers)
THE RUNNING TIME – 130 Minutes
Twenty-eight years ago, “Practical Magic” bombed at the box office, barely making its production budget of $75 million. Yet in the decades since its release, it became a cherished cult classic because so many women resonated with the love these whimsical witches had for one another. If an Owens witch needed help, hexes, drugging potions, and even murder were on the table. Even the climax, where women who had previously shunned our protagonists Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gilly (Nicole Kidman) for their witchcraft came to their rescue after learning about Gilly’s abusive ex-boyfriend, was an unabashed display of female solidarity. With how much passion the film has cultivated over the years, the mystery isn’t that “Practical Magic” received a sequel, but that it took so long!
But if the wait for “Practical Magic 2” was lengthy, the film wastes no time catching the audience up to speed in the first five minutes—almost to its detriment. The death of Sally’s paramour Gary is briefly touched upon despite being the foundation of the movie’s entire conflict. In what feels like a regression from the lessons learned from the first film, Sally decides to hide her children’s identities as witches from them and once again attempts a normal, witchcraft-free life.
Yet the playful spirit of the original is immediately present in the sequel, largely because these actresses slip so naturally into their roles. Bullock and Kidman continue to be dynamite as sisters who couldn’t be more different or more loyal to one another; Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest are as lovable as ever as kooky aunts Franny and Jet; and Joey King and Maisie Williams make a surprisingly great duo as Sally’s daughters Kylie and Antonia. Many of the film’s best scenes are in the first twenty minutes, as the lack of stakes allows these charming characters to bounce off of one another. Even the dynamic between Kylie and Gideon (Xolo Maridueña) somewhat avoids the pitfalls of the obligatory young adult romance through sheer wholesomeness. As you bask in the film’s warmth, you can’t help but want to live with these characters as they banter with one another, cast spells, and throw parties.
When the actual plot of the film kicks in — and with all the subtlety of a speeding Ford sedan — “Practical Magic 2” drags significantly: Kylie heads to England to end the curse that any man who falls in love with an Owens woman will die, while Sally and Gilly chase after her. Separating Kylie from Sally and Gilly means that much of the screen time spent on her feels wasted; her storyline is straightforward, dramatic, and curiously divorced from her sister. The petty squabbles and running jokes that Sally and Gilly share make the dullness of Kylie’s arc stand out. Their simultaneously silly and sincere scenes do not mesh well with Kylie’s scenes, which are played completely straight. And once Lee Pace enters the picture as Sally’s newest mysterious love interest, while Kylie is saddled with an antagonist so boring that one of the characters tunes out his big monologue, the discrepancy between the two storylines becomes near insurmountable.
Thankfully, the music supervision of “Practical Magic 2” is always on point when the writing falls short. The needle drops do a lot of heavy lifting, emphasizing a scene’s emotional resonance without overdoing it. The song choices span a multitude of genres and decades, but they feel cohesive as a whole and distinctly fit these characters because of their energy. Like the first film, the music is crucial to the atmosphere here. It is fitting that the single best scene of the film might be a fresh take on the iconic “Coconut” needle drop from the original.
But above all else, this film works because of the whimsy present in every second of screen time Bullock and Kidman share. “Practical Magic 2” more than justifies its existence by allowing us to see two of our best actresses exchange barbs and affirmations in equal measure. They slide back into these roles with such ease, and their sisterly bond is remarkably winning. The love their characters share is the heart of the film and keeps the viewer invested in the climax, even if the antagonist is lacking. The conclusion expands on the themes of sisterhood and self-acceptance that made the original so appealing. In all its cheesiness and predictability, “Practical Magic 2” is a delightful time at the movies, thanks to the wondrous chemistry its leading ladies share. It may not break the mold or deliver streamlined storytelling, but it will please fans who have been eagerly anticipating a sequel to the cult classic original.
