Practical Magic 2: No Nostalgia Required
Let’s talk Practical Magic 2! I didn’t watch the original film until a couple of years ago, so my nostalgia bar is very low. That said, I’m a huge fan of Sandra Bullock, so I was SHOCKED that this film never crossed my TV screen until the 2024 Halloween season.
I truly enjoyed the witchy whimsicalness of the sisters and their aunts. Who doesn’t love a good margarita? I also love the cat-and-mouse game that the story gives. And as a hopeless romantic who loves the idea of building the perfect person for you, I was all in.
Coming into Practical Magic 2, I had no expectations. I just wanted a fun sister-witch story that was entertaining, whimsical, and possibly a good love story. And that’s exactly what this film gave me.
A Little Magic Goes a Long Way
Practical Magic 2 begins with Sally Owens dealing with heartbreak, as we learn that the curse remains unbroken and her perfect man, Gary Hallet, has also passed away. A heartbroken Sally erases the memory of magic from her daughters, never telling them about the curse. She pushes her own powers down deep and takes the girls away from their magical family.
That is, until it’s Aunt Jet’s birthday and all hell breaks loose.
The deathwatch beetle has returned, and Jet is summoned by the Raven Book, which seems to contain the spell needed to reverse the love curse. Kylie Owens (Joey King) is in love, but she hasn’t said it out loud. However, the night she accidentally confesses her feelings, her boyfriend (Xolo Maridueña) is hit by a car while riding his bicycle and falls into a coma.
Now, with the help of her sister Gillian (Nicole Kidman), Sally must confront what she has been running from, confess the truth to her daughters, and save Kylie from an evil wannabe warlock.
Did I forget to mention that Lee Pace is also in this?
Sparks Are Flying with Sandra Bullock & Lee Pace
Nicole Kidman dives back into Gillian with ease, playing the wild, bohemian sister, but this time taking a bit of a backseat when necessary. Sandra Bullock is Sally Owens, and I love this about her. She is so funny and effortlessly charming. Pairing her with Lee Pace is absolutely inspired. He’s another actor who could have chemistry with anyone, and boy, do they! Every time he looks at Sally, sparks fly off the screen. I had to fan myself.
Nicole Kidman dives back into Gillian with ease, playing the wild, bohemian sister we remember, but this time taking a bit of a backseat when necessary. Sandra Bullock is Sally Owens, and I love this version of her. She is so funny and effortlessly charming. Pairing her with Lee Pace is absolutely inspired. He’s another actor who could have chemistry with just about anyone, and boy, do they!
Every time he looks at Sally, sparks fly off the screen. I had to fan myself.
A Little Too Paint-by-Numbers
While Practical Magic 2 is a good time, it is a little paint-by-numbers, and nothing particularly surprising happens. I also found myself wondering why they didn’t do more with Sally’s other daughter, Antonia (Maisie Williams). While the film gives her a soft nod toward being queer at the end, I wish we had gotten more from her character. She feels like more than just a doctor-in-training working at the hospital where her sister’s boyfriend is being cared for, and I would have loved to see the movie explore that.
I also couldn’t stand the use of a specific camera; I don’t know exactly what it is, but every wide shot was almost fisheye, and everything at the edges was blurry. Someone walks in or is talking to the side, blurry. Why? Is it a weird filter choice? Did they want to add 10lbs to the actors on screen? It was so annoying and distracting. I don’t know what they were thinking.
There is also a specific camera choice I couldn’t stand. I don’t know exactly which lens or effect they were using, but almost every wide shot had a strange fisheye look, with everything at the edges blurring. Someone would walk into the frame or be talking off to the side, and they would just be… blurry.
Why?!
Was it a weird filter choice? Was it supposed to give the movie a dreamy, magical quality? Did they want to add 10 pounds to everyone on screen? I genuinely don’t know, but it was so annoying and distracting that I found myself thinking about it every time it happened.
Overall, I truly enjoyed Practical Magic 2 and will be adding it to my already incredibly long Fall Watch movie list!
Reviews