The Owens Sisters have returned to the big screen after a 28 year long gap. This sequel sees the witches go on a mission to rescue a younger member of the family.
The women in the Owens family suffer from a curse that kills any man the Owens fall in love with. After Sally Owens (Sandra Bullock) loses her second husband, she places a spell on her daughters to forget they are witches. The secret gets exposed after Sally’s oldest daughter, Kylie (Joey King), falls in love with Gideon (Xolo Maridueña), and he ends up in a coma after getting hit by a car. Kylie goes to England in a desperate attempt to lift the curse.
The first Practical Magic was a quirky film. It was made during the height of a witch craze: it was an era of Hocus Pocus, The Craft, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Charmed. Practical Magic’s uniqueness came from having a Thelma and Louise-style crime story and being a toughing tale about sisterhood. The first film ended with Sally finding new love and the Owens believing they have ended the curse. The sequel undercut its predecessor by making its ending redundant.
Practical Magic 2 started on a sour note, and it seemed like it was going to repeat the same plot points of the first film. Sally rejected magic, and she wanted to make sure her daughters could have a normal life. However, after Gideon’s accident, the sequel does go in its own direction. Kylie goes to England to find out about her ancestor, and Sally and Gillian (Nicole Kidman) were hot on her trail.
The first film was based on a novel, and it felt sprawling because it had numerous subplots. The sequel was more focused, even though it had a chunky 130-minute runtime. It was lethargic at times. The sequel expanded the world by introducing more magic users. People could study magic so they could perform spells and make potions, but this development does muddy the villain’s motivation.
One of the original film’s appeals was the sisterly relationship between Sally and Gillian. They had a fun dynamic because of their differing personalities and loyalty to each other. Practical Magic was made at the height of Bullock and Kidman’s popularity. They eased back into the roles, although Gillian hasn’t matured over the course of nearly three decades. I know I shouldn’t say this, but looking at Bullock and Kidman, I couldn’t help but think about how much plastic surgery and Botox they’ve had. Their faces were unnaturally smooth and barely able to show any expression.
Sisterhood was a throughline in the sequel because the aunts and Sally’s children were also close and loyal to each other. However, the sequel was more focused on Kylie. Maisie Williams’ Antonia was given to do. She had to stay by Gideon’s bedside in Boston.
Practical Magic 2 was a film made up of lots of little inconsistencies. Sally’s second husband died in 2003, so Kylie and Antonia should have been in their 30s by the mid-2020s. Yet they are played by actors in their 20s. Kylie was a college student, and Antonia was training to be a neurosurgeon, which seemed ridiculous because Maisie Williams’ short stature and youthful appearance make her look like she could still play a teenager. Presumably, Kylie was a postgraduate student because she’s meant to be the older sister.
As someone who follows film productions, it was notable that the sequel took place in England. More movies have been filmed in the UK because of the tax breaks. Warner Bros. like to film in the UK because they have a lot of infrastructure in the nation. As someone who comes from rural England, the portrayal of Thornfield was amusing because the village looked like it hadn’t progressed beyond the 1960s.
Practical Magic 2 lacked the charm, wit and creativity of the first film. It can only appeal to most committed fans.
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Summary
Unable to cast a spell.
