BY: Mariah Thomas
Long awaited sequels will always have an immense level of pressure on them. We saw this earlier this year with The Devil Wears Prada 2 and now with Practical Magic 2. The conversations range from not needing these ten plus year old sequels to the expectation of perfection. For fans of the original Practical Magic, there are a handful of specific elements that make the original so beloved. For many it is the autumnal aesthetic and 90s witchy feel. A number of fans, myself included, felt this lacking when the initial teaser trailer dropped. However, my main problem with Practical Magic 2 is that it is more of an adaptation to Alice Hoffman’s novel The Book of Magic and less of a sequel to the original film. Though the first film is also an adaptation, it made many creative changes that fall short in the second film. Practical Magic 2 is a great film but a terrible sequel.
The latest iteration follows the Owens women as they embark on another battle of love only to realize the familial love they share is stronger. Kylie (Joey King) and Antonia (Maisie Williams) have had their memories wiped of magic. After losing a second husband Sally (Sandra Bullock) is stern in her choice for her girls to never know magic. In her mind, they will be protected. However, Gilly (Nicole Kidman) knows better. The girls can only be shielded from magic for so long before the curse inevitably harms one of them. At the start of the film Aunt Jet (Dianne Wiest) knows danger is near and sets off a string of events that send Kylie, Sally and Gilly to London as there may be a way to end this curse once and for all. After saying “I love you” for the first time, Kylie’s boyfriend Gideon (Xolo Maridueña) ends up in a coma after a tragic accident. In that moment she finally realizes all of the childhood taunting of her family being cursed was real. She is angered at her mother for keeping this from her and storms off to find answers. However, the answers she ends up finding are woven tightly with black magic. Sally and Gilly are not far behind her as the sister duo rush off to help and save Kylie where they meet up with an Aunt Jet approved professor, Ian Wright (Lee Pace). There is an immediate pull between Sally and Ian as they work together to help not only find Kylie but herself again. Kylie is in a race against time to save Gideon and Sally is in a race to save Kylie from lurking dangers the likes of which she is not privy to. While the London chase takes place, Antonia stays back to keep an eye on Gideon in the hospital as she is now a nurse. Aunt Franny (Stockard Channing) also stays close to his side for witchy protection.
Avoiding major spoilers, my favorite moment of this film is the way in which the curse is finally broken. In the previous film viewers were led to believe the curse was broken then; however, in a flashback scene in the sequel it is revealed Sally went on to marry Gary (Aidan Quinn), only for him to meet the same fate as all other men who fell in love with an Owens woman. In order to protect herself and daughters Sally built tall walls to hide magic. In this film she also works to break them down when it’s clear magic is what will save them. A curse as devastating as a death sentence to anyone who dares to love an Owens woman can only be undone in an equally devastating way. Ultimately guided by the love she has for her family, Aunt Frances is the one to finally break the curse once and for all. It is a joy and privilege to have Stockard Channing take part in this film in such a groundbreaking and beautiful way. The curse breaking scene is one that will stay on my mind forever.
Another huge highlight of this film for me is the beautiful bond between Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. Through the waves of criticism this movie has faced, most people can agree on the fact that these two on screen together are magic (no pun intended). It’s why every halloween season everyone is ready to declare if they are a “Sally” or a “Gilly” when it comes to their autumnal mood. These characters these talented actresses have brought to life have stood the test of time and this film beautifully continues on with their stories in modern day. In both humorous and heartbreaking ways, Kidman and Bullock both deliver incredible performances in Practical Magic 2.
The original Practical Magic film was directed by Griffin Dunne. In the build up to the sequel, he told Variety that he felt the latest iteration should be directed by a woman. This led to Susanne Bier being tapped for the project. She previously worked with Nicole Kidman on the series “The Perfect Couple” and Sandra Bullock on the movie Bird Box. I think Bier did an incredible job on this film. It is a tedious task to take on a beloved project and hold onto things people loved about the original while making it your own. I only wish there was more intention with the coloring of the film and a cohesive structure to the characters audiences have long loved. Of course, choices like writing and costuming play a bigger role in the lack of cohesion for the Owens women. There are incredible scenes that feel reminiscent to the overall feel of the first film, but there are just as many that take you out of it with harsh lighting and a color palette that is all over the place. Regardless, the main thought I had watching this film is that most of my criticisms come out of direct comparison. If this film had nothing to do with Practical Magic and was just a new witchy movie, I would love every moment of it. Based on reviews prior to seeing the film, I went into the project expecting to dislike it. When I let myself just enjoy getting to see a women centered film about witches directed by a woman, all of that bias went away and I found myself loving the film.
All in all, if you are a fan of Practical Magic then you will simply enjoy getting to see the Owens women on screen again. There are things to take issue with if you look close enough like the film feeling very The Truman Show-esque at times with the product placement. Or the constant reminders of what happened in the previous film via lines of dialogue sprinkled throughout the entirety of the movie. There is also the aspect of Antonia’s queerness in the book not being explored in the film. However, there is a world to just enjoy the film for what it is, flaws and all. Though I went in expecting not to enjoy it, Practical Magic 2 is a movie I already look forward to rewatching alongside the first every Halloween season.