A One Mann’s Movies review of “Practical Magic 2”. (2026, 2*, 12A).
I had always dismissed the original Practical Magic film from 1998, under the impression that it was some sort of Disney-fied witch fantasy film. But when I came to watch it a couple of weeks back, ahead of the release of this belated sequel. I actually found it to have a much darker and blackly-comedic tone. And although I thought it was a bit all over the place, particularly in the second half, I actually quite enjoyed it. (Probably a 3 star rating). So when I sat down to watch this long-delayed sequel – Practical Magic 2 – my hopes were at least slightly raised.
Sadly though, I was disappointed. This one was not a patch on the first film in my opinion and although it was impressive that the original cast members were drawn back together, I found the script to be a bit of a shambles.
One Mann’s Movies Rating:
Plot:
Sally Owens (Sandra Bullock) has brought her two daughters up without knowledge of their witchy powers and particularly without knowledge of the bloodline curse that caused Sally’s past two husbands (and their father) to meet untimely deaths. Her sister Gillian (Nicole Kidman), although disapproving, is sworn to secrecy. Now grown, the daughters Antonia (Maisie Williams) and Kylie (Joey King) are leading different lives. But when Kylie falls in love and her boyfriend Gideon (Xolo Maridueña) is mortally injured, the adults have to come clean to try to save both Gideon and Kylie, who is herself in danger from dark forces.
Certification:
UK: 12A; US: PG-13. (From the BBFC website: “Threat, violence, injury detail, sex, language, sexual violence references.”)
Talent:
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Dianne Wiest, Stockard Channing, Maisie Williams, Joey King, Lee Pace, Solly McLeod, Xolo Maridueña.
Directed by: Susanne Bier.
Written by: Akiva Goldsman, Georgia Pritchett, Kelly Marcel. (Based on the novel by Alice Hoffman).
Running Time: 2h 10m.
Review:
Positives:
- It’s remarkable that after a gap of 28 years that the film is able to pull together all four central actresses back for their original roles, particularly that the two ‘aunts’ are played by Dianne Wiest (now 78) and Stockard Channing (now 82, only slightly less believable to play Rizzo in Grease!) So the film scores highly in terms of hitting you in the nostalgic feels, assuming you were a lover of the original film when first released.
- The film contains some decent needle drops, including the second use of “Pata Pata” by Miriam Makeba in movies this year (anyone remember the other one*?), “Dancing in the Moonlight”, Nilsson’s “Lime and Coconut” and a really lovely version of Billy Joel’s “And So It Goes” sung by Brandi Carlile.
- There are a few decent lines in the script that made me laugh:
- (In relation to the death curse on lovers) “It’s not good for the Tinder bio”.
- “Live a little, live a lot”
- “No magic is stronger than sisterhood”.
(* The other film this was used in was Project Hail Mary.)
Negatives:
- There is so much inane banter between the sisters and between the aunts. It all feels like that at certain times the script just said “<improvise banter here for five minutes>”. I presume its meant to come over as quirky and natural, but sadly it comes over as really, REALLY annoying, desperately false and insanely flimsy. The film is a ridiculously unnecessary 130 minutes, and I reckon a good 20 minutes of that could be excised by removing this irritating tosh.
- The plot is completely bonkers! It involves Sally and Gillian travelling to London, all in order to try to find Kylie (who seems to have chosen to travel internationally wearing a pink nightie!) They need to look up some contact called Ian Wright (no, not that one) who JUST COINCIDENTALLY has been put into a comatose paralysis ON THAT VERY NIGHT by someone (who is revealed later). Didn’t the scriptwriters think we wouldn’t be saying “WAIT, WHAT??” Once Wrightie is revived, there is some bonkers Icelandic McGuffin called the ‘Raudskina’ scroll that’s been stolen and is essential to be merged with Kylie’s McGuffin to create some sort of super-McGuffin.
- The trio then travel into rural England, which is some sort of bizarre time-travel American ideal of what an English village used to look like in 1940! For example on the steam train to the village (obviously!), Gillian manages to purchase several bags of chips and gin and tonics! And they get off a bus that’s just been driven down from the set of “All Creatures Great and Small”! Later, Ian Wright cooks Sally a delicious traditional English meal (sarcasm) of a fried egg on dry toast! (At least, the toast is dry in the first shot and then appears mysteriously buttered in the next – ah, that’s witchcraft for you!)
Summary Thoughts:
What a waste of talent. Both Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock deserved something better than this mess of a movie.
Where to watch?
Trailer:
The trailer for the film is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho10_4IX1jE.
Subscribe
Don’t forget, you can subscribe to One Mann’s Movies to receive future reviews by email right here. No salesman will call!