There are some movies you watch once and easily forget. And then there is Practical Magic.
The release of Practical Magic 2 brings back its original charm that first spellbound audiences into loving this magical story of sisterhood.
For anyone who somehow missed the original, Practical Magic, first a novel by Alice Hoffman and later adapted to the big screen in 1998, follows sisters Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian (Nicole Kidman), who come from a long line of witches. After their parents’ death, they were raised by their eccentric aunts played by Diane Wiest and Stockard Channing, the sisters grew up to be complete opposites. Sally is practical, grounded and dreams of having a family, while Gillian is fiery, free-spirited and constantly looking for her next adventure.
But there is one thing they cannot escape: an ancient family curse that causes the men the Owens women fall in love with to die. By the end of the movie, Sally and Gillian realize that accepting their history, rather than spending their lives fearing it, may be the only way to move forward.
And, of course, there is the most important lesson the original left behind: fall in love whenever you can.
Grab Your Salt and Margaritas!
Based on the novel “Book of Magic” by Alice Hoffman, Practical Magic 2 is directed by Susanne Bier, who also directed Bird Box, and brings back Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, also the producers of this sequel, who once again star as Sally and Gillian.
Set 25 years after the events of the first movie, the original cast comes back alongside new faces and protagonists. Maisie Williams plays Antonia, a medical student whose responsible and grounded personality mirrors that of her mother, Sally. Joey King plays Kylie, an arts major whose messy, spontaneous energy feels much closer to her aunt Gillian.
The new sisters, however, have grown up without knowing the truth about their family. After being heartbroken by the family curse once again, Sally chooses to hide their magical history from her daughters.
That secret does not stay buried for long.
After her boyfriend Gideon (Xolo Maridueña), suffers a serious accident, Kylie begins to uncover a haunting family secret, as she finds a mystery book tied to their legacy. Determined to save the person she loves, Kylie travels to England in search of answers. Sally and Gillian soon follow, joined by Ian Wright (Lee Pace), a university professor who studies the history of magic.
Together, they attempt to uncover the source of the Owens family magic and, once again, find a way to break the curse.
No Lack Of Magic
The sequel can almost feel like a remake at times.
Once again, there are two very different sisters, a family curse, forbidden magic, romance and a mysterious book waiting to reveal the truth. The difference is that this time, the Owens sisters are discovering their heritage rather than growing up surrounded by it.
The film does not try to recreate its original cozy fall vibes, with its bright lighting and different aesthetics.
Still, Practical Magic 2 understands that there are certain things you simply do not mess with.
One of the most interesting things about Practical Magic 2 is how closely it follows the formula of the original, but not in a negative form: For a sequel to a movie that became such a beloved cult classic, this could easily feel repetitive. Instead, Practical Magic 2 mostly treats the familiar story as a way of passing the torch to a new generation.
The costume designs are reimagined rather than simply recycled, while the soundtrack brings back the witchy energy of the original with songs by Stevie Nicks alongside newer music, including a track from Olivia Rodrigo’s latest album. And, naturally, the famous late-night margaritas make their return.
The result is a movie that feels familiar without being completely stuck in the past.
Same Owens Charm
At the end of the day, Practical Magic 2 knows exactly what kind of movie it wants to be: unapologetically corny, romantic and girly.
And honestly, that is part of the charm.
Beneath all the spells, romance and margaritas, the movie is ultimately about growing up, finding your way back to the people you love and realizing that some of the strongest magic has nothing to do with witchcraft at all.
If you watched Practical Magic as a child, you probably wanted to be a witch and grow lavender in your garden. If you watched Practical Magic 2 as a grown-up, you probably felt the intentional message passed on by the movie: there’s no magic quite as powerful as the love that grows through sisterhood and womanhood.
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The article above was edited by Larissa Buzon.
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