‘Practical Magic 2’ Review: The Magic is Gone

Arriving 28 years after the original premiered, Practical Magic 2 is finally bringing two of cinema’s favorite witches back to the big screen. The film follows Sally and Gillian Owens who must confront their family curse after Sally’s daughter puts herself in harm’s way on a hunt for the cure to save her boyfriend. Much less contained then the original films story, this sequel has big ambitions but does not follow through in the way you would hope. Though it is nice to see two powerhouse acting legends, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, back in these iconic roles, they were not given a whole lot to work with. Read our full review for Practical Magic 2 below. 

I can not help but think of the other legacy sequel released just a few months ago, The Devil Wears Prada 2. The movie was enjoyed by critics and audiences alike, unlike Practical Magic 2, despite their clear similarities. Both have a larger gap in releases and their iconic female leads returning, but why does one work significantly better than the other? The answer is simple, The Devil Wears Prada 2 gave us a clear and valid reason for existing. It succeeds because it embraced the present moment and had something meaningful to say about the current state of print journalism. Practical Magic 2 on the other hand has nothing new to say and nothing new to offer for its characters. Sandra Bullock’s character is given the same exact character arc and Nicole Kidman is given no arc at all. The film offers no valuable reason for it to exist other than financial gain. It would have been fine for it to not say something new or just be a fun time, but unfortunately it can not even offer a wild ride. It is a total slog to get through, with multiple cringe inducing moments that went on for far too long. The only redeeming quality is that Bullock, Kidman, and new addition Lee Pace have a lot of chemistry together. 

The most noticeable omission from Practical Magic 2 is the autumn, cozy atmosphere that made the original so special. It is extremely disheartening to look at a side by side of any two stills from either film. The warm aura that envelops the first movie is almost entirely absent from the sequel, making the visual language of the two films feel distinctly different. To me, this fall color palette made the first Practical Magic what it is. I will say I was extremely happy with the costuming. Instead of following modern fashion trends, they stick with the 90’s witchy garb reminiscent of the original. Yet it did not feel like a cheap knock off to me, it was done tastefully and ended up being a standout. What made the original so iconic was the color palette, the focus on sisterhood, the practical effects, and the styling, but most of those key aspects are lacking making this new addition feel hollow and disconnected. 

Needless to say I was incredibly disappointed in Practical Magic 2. All of the magic that made the first one a certified classic is wiped away. What we get is a soulless, lifeless rehashing that only succeeds in any way thanks to how charming the cast is. I can see some audience goers enjoying this just on the basis of being able to see their favorite characters again, but I beg of you to ask for more from these sequels. Why would I ever watch this clearly lesser movie in place of the original. This does not work as a sequel, because it brings nothing new, it does not work as a stand alone movie, and it is certainly not worth your time. 

Practical Magic 2 was directed by Susanne Bier and stars Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Joey King, Maisie Williams, and Lee Pace. The film was released on September 10. 

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