Cinema VinesAfter nearly three decades, the beloved 1998 fantasy comedy "Practical Magic" has returned to the screen in a sequel that feels more like a forgotten spell than a continuation of the original charm. The new film brings back Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as the Owens sisters, who once again inhabit the iconic Massachusetts coastal home that fans have grown to love. The set was meticulously rebuilt to capture the nostalgic feel of the first movie, and the wardrobe has been updated to reflect contemporary fashion while nodding to the 90s style that made the original a cult favorite.
Despite the effort to recapture the past, the sequel diverges sharply from the whimsical tone that defined the 1998 hit. While the original blended elements of "Death Becomes Her" with a playful, almost campy approach to witchcraft, the new installment leans into a darker, more genuinely spooky atmosphere. The film’s opening scene—where a pentagram is traditionally forged with whipped cream—now features fire, signaling a shift toward a more ominous aesthetic that feels out of sync with the lighthearted spirit of its predecessor.
The story picks up immediately after the events of the first film, following Sally Owens as she once again faces the curse that haunts her family. After her second husband dies, she forces her sister Gillian and their aunts Jet and Franny to keep the family’s magical legacy a secret from their two daughters, casting a spell that erases their memories of witchcraft. The plot then follows Sally’s daughter Kylie, who, after her boyfriend Gideon falls into a coma, embarks on a mission to break the Owens curse. Sally and Gillian travel to England in an attempt to protect Kylie from dark forces, a journey that further shifts the film’s tone from playful to genuinely eerie.
While the film still benefits from strong performances—particularly from Bullock and Kidman, whose on-screen chemistry remains a highlight—many of the original’s memorable moments are missing. The film lacks the fun, almost absurd scenes that made the first movie's darker moments palatable, such as Bullock’s PTA coven scene or Kidman’s comedic warnings to neighbors about keeping their husbands. Instead, the sequel offers more subdued, tender moments that rely heavily on the emotional depth brought by supporting actors like Channing Tatum, Emily Wiest, and Michael King.
Ultimately, "Practical Magic 2" feels like a sequel that has strayed from the spellbook that made the original a classic. While it retains the familiar faces and setting, the shift toward a darker, less whimsical narrative leaves fans yearning for the campy charm that once made the Owens sisters a beloved part of 90s cinema.
