Halloween is just around the corner, which means trips to pumpkin patches, lots of candy corn, and an abundance of Halloween movies. Favorites that come to mind are Halloweentown, Hocus Pocus, and a long line of horror films. Perhaps the best of all, however, is Practical Magic–the throwback you forgot you needed. Released in 1998, Practical Magic has basically everything a good 90’s film needs: Sandra Bullock, cheesy love songs, and a love story. Not to mention magic, which is exactly why it should be the first choice for your next movie night.
I re-watched “Practical Magic” last week and was completely overcome with so much love for the cinematic masterpiece. The setting is swoon-worthy and the characters made me laugh, but the best part was the sisterhood that I saw as I watched. These women are the definition of girl power, and it filled my heart with so much joy. Let’s start with the two main characters, Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian (Nicole Kidman.) First off, killer cast, huh? We follow these women from girlhood through the struggles they face as adults. Although distance separated them at different points in their lives, the bond that they formed as young girls kept them close together always.
When times got rough and Gillian needed help, she knew that Sally would come to her rescue. Together, the two witches worked together to fix the problem and protect themselves and their family. The friendship formed between you and your closest gal pal is probably just like this; you wouldn’t think twice about helping her out, and she would do the exact same for you– even if it meant traveling across the country and casting a spell on some creepy guy.
Although Sally and Gillian are awesome on their own, it would be doing an injustice to the movie not to mention Aunt Frances and Aunt Jet. The women that raised the sisters are perhaps the best part of the movie. Between their love for chocolate and always having something funny to say, they shone throughout the film and reminded me of just how important the women in a family are. Plus, they are responsible for Midnight Margaritas, which undoubtedly is one of the best scenes of the movie and definitely made me want to join their family.
Practical Magic is guaranteed to make you laugh, cry, and smile uncontrollably. Make your next movie night the best ever with this perfect movie (yes, you can find it on Netflix)– you will not regret it. Oh, and don’t forget the margaritas!! Or the chocolate. Never forget the chocolate.