Autumn is here, magic is in the air and the Owen's witches are back on the big screen in Practical Magic 2. Released in 1998 Practical Magic is the ultimate cosy, spooky girlie autumnal film that has remained popular over the years. Pressing play on Practical Magic, when summer turns to autumn and the sun turns to rain creates a fuzzy sense of nostalgia for many. Nostalgia is a wonderful yet dangerous thing for a film, for it gives an almost impossible standard for sequels to match. So, is Practical Magic 2 able to live up to the cosy nostalgia of the first film? forge its own path? or fail to spook and entertain? Read on to find out - there will be some minor spoilers!
Picking up years later Sally Owens (Sandra Bullock) has once again turned her back on magic and erased all knowledge of magic from her daughters, Kylie (Joey King) and Antonio's (Maisie Williams) memories. Life seems good, but when the Owens family comes together to celebrate Jet's (Dianne Wiest) birthday everything changes. The curse that has plagued them for generations and ensures all their romantic loves die, rears its ugly head setting Kylie on a disastrous and dark path. The brilliant sister duo Sally and Gillian (Nicole Kidman) set off on an adventure to unlock Sally's magic and save Kylie. Together they journey to England, the birthplace of their ancestors, bringing them into contact with Ian (Lee Pace) a wizard and a whole new perspective on the curse. The narrative is slightly broader this time, but the small cast ensures it doesn't spiral out of control. It's an engaging watch full of laughs, even if some of the plot twists are predictable. Even as you guess the plot twists, the film manages to distinguish itself as fresh and original a continuation of the original story rather than a rehash of the same storyline.
The charm of Practical Magic 2 lies in family relationships, particularly sisterly ones. Spanning three generations, the Owens' family has three sets of sisters: Jet and Frances (Stockard Channing), Sally and Gillian and Kylie and Antonio, each at very different life stages. These close family ties mean the film can delve into emotional moments in a way that feels heartbreakingly authentic and will make even the toughest viewers ready to cry. Antonio and Kylie, the youngest and least effected by the curse, have less scars than their mother and aunts, they therefore see things differently offering a fresh new perspective. Unsurprisingly, Sally and Gillian charm audiences with their natural chemistry and realistic sibling relationship, both Bullock and Kidman effortlessly step back into their roles as if no time has passed, they are a joy to watch. Lee Pace's love interest Ian is less charming and more bland, he's an interesting addition whose background could have been explored better. Williams and King are both great additions to the cast, however Williams' lack of screen time is noticeable, her role rather limited for a main character.
Elsewhere visually the Owen's house, town and lives will strike nostalgia through audiences, once again welcoming fans into the cosy, spooky world of Practical Magic. Unfortunately, the lighting is an issue, not surprising as lighting and colour grading seem to be an industry wide issue at the moment. That beautiful yellow glow light of the first film is replaced with a harsh white light that somehow removes some of the visual magic. This harsh lighting is more reflective of our current world, where LED's have replaced the HPS lights that gave off the yellow tone. It's disappointing but unsurprising. The soundtrack is comprised of a brilliant score by Rupert Gregson-Williams and some great music from Fleetwood Mac and Florence and the Machine. The combination gives us what the lighting doesn't, a nostalgic yet modern sound that feels one hundred percent witchy.
Overall Practical Magic 2 is a brilliant sequel that will delight fans of the first film. It's nostalgic, yet it feels original, a story worth telling, a worthy sequel. Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock give brilliantly authentic yet comedic performances that will leave you smiling. Practical Magic 2 is the ultimate spooky, girlie film! A must watch this Autumn!
4 stars.
Thank you for reading xx
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