'Practical Magic 2' Review: A Cozy and Charming Sequel
After nearly thirty years, the owens sisters have finally made their way back to the big screen in Practical Magic 2. Thankfully, this warming and heartfelt sequel proves some good things are worth waiting for.
‘Practical Magic 2’ catches audiences up with Sally Owens (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian Owens (Nicole Kidman), the former now settled into her comfortable lifestyle in her small, quaint town while the latter continues to be a giddy, transitory spirit gliding from one adventure to the next. However, their lives once again become more complicated when Sally’s now grown daughter Kylie (Joey King) aims to break their family’s curse after her boyfriend Gideon (Xolo Maridueña) has a terrible accident leaving him hospitalized. After nearly thirty years since the original film, it would be hardly surprising if this long-awaited follow-up ended up being lackluster, but Bullock and company have crafted a sequel that fans should certainly enjoy.
Fans can rest assured that Bullock and Kidman still have the magic here, not having remotely lost a single step as their respective characters, their chemistry as effortless and infectious as ever. It’s clear as day that the two of them immensely enjoy working with one another and the way they’re able to bounce off of one another and vacillate between the film’s lighter, breezier moments and its darker, more emotionally charged together is quite impressive. The highlight of both of these film’s is their familial relationship and the way it’s wonderfully explored, each able to get on the other’s nerves consistently, but wouldn’t hesitate to do anything for the other for the sake of the family. Simply put, these films wouldn’t work without their dynamic pairing and their on screen chemistry definitely keeps the film afloat when the waters begin to get rocky.
The supporting performances are also very strong here, Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest slipping back into their respective characters with notable ease as well, the two of them crucial to the emotional heft of the film. Their chemistry is also a highlight here, their dynamic with each other coupled with Bullock and Kidman continuing to be immensely enjoyable to watch on screen. The newcomers to the cast are also strong additions, King and Maisie Williams making for inspired choices for Sally’s now grown daughters. The two of them are terrific together, but King is truly able to hold her own with this seasoned cast, bringing the emotional gravitas when she needs to. However, the standout in this supporting cast is Lee Pace as Ian Wright, who becomes crucial in Sally and Gillian’s journey in helping Kylie. Not only is he sickeningly charming in the film, but he also has palpable chemistry with Bullock, their scenes together allowing Sally and Gillian’s perilous journey to still retain a breezy, buoyant highly enjoyable energy.
The film also has a deft balance of humor and heart, retaining the familial charms of the original while making sure to inject this sequel with enough heart and pathos to make it a worthwhile follow-up for fans. Not only is the Owens family curse further explored here, but the expansion of the lore and mythology of their family’s history is fascinating. It certainly would’ve been an easy task to give this second installment a similar framework to the original film and while some elements do feel familiar, there is far more new territory explored here and the film is all the better for it. There are several moments that pull on the heartstrings that not only feel earned, but are even more heartfelt than anything in the original film. This sequel makes it clear quite quickly that the stakes are far higher this time around and thankfully it doesn’t hit the brakes as it attempts to explore darker, more exciting territory.
While this cast is always a treat to watch, a handful of characters are mostly sidelined for a significant portion of the film, stuck spinning their wheels and detached from characters they should absolutely be sharing the screen with. The film is also incredibly predictable as well, especially in its third act which sees the introduction of a character named Tom Lockland (Solly McLeod) and it becomes a disappointingly generic magic film that isn’t nearly as compelling as the material that preceded it. The film also clocks in at a whopping two hours and ten minutes, nearly a half hour longer than the original film, and it is especially felt in the film’s final act where it feels like it’s delivering an extended epilogue that could’ve easily been trimmed down to keep the pacing tighter and more efficient.
‘Practical Magic 2’, unlike most sequels that grace the screen after two decades, manages to keep the magic alive thanks to a game returning cast, higher emotional stakes, and a delightfully balanced tone that keeps it afloat even when its narrative engine begins to stall. Fans of the original can breathe a heavy sigh of relief knowing that this sequel casts an alluring, very charming spell.