‘Practical Magic 2’ review: Something woeful this way comes

A lore-heavy plot and messy character developments dull the spells of Practical Magic 2.

Sometimes a movie’s magic truly is lightning in a bottle. It’s explosive, powerful, and surrounds us in a blanket of nostalgic warmth. 1998’s Practical Magic is a comfort-watch rooted in the love of sisterly bonds and inner growth, set against the crisp New England aesthetic. The original film is a fall season must-watch, a classic of witchy storytelling. Practical Magic 2, on the other hand, reaches for grander magical heights and unfortunately gets lost in a haze of murky and messy plot beats.

Director Suzanne Bier charts a story based on the second Practical Magic book, The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman. In turn, Practical Magic 2 builds on elements established in the original movie, while expanding the magical world of the Owens family. Ultimately, Practical Magic 2 feels like it’s missing something and at the same time bloated in a way that lacks depth.

The generational curse.

Practical Magic 2 takes place almost 20 years after the original film. After sisters Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian (Nicole Kidman) discover that they failed to break their family’s curse, Sally has detached herself from being a witch. In the years since, her second husband died from the curse and she removed any memories from her daughters knowing about magic. All three generations of Owens women have lived blissfully in their Massachusetts town.

When Sally’s eldest daughter Kylie (Joey King) experiences love for the first time, her boyfriend becomes destined to die from the curse. Practical Magic 2 focuses on Kylie descending into a magical world in search of a cure while Sally and Gillian desperately try to save her before malevolent forces arise. This tale goes international; moving from Massachusetts to England to chronicle the deep history of the Owens family and the effects of magical curses – especially theirs.

Also rounding out the cast of characters are the eccentric aunts Jet and Frances (Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing), Sally’s youngest surgeon daughter Antonia (Maisie Williams), Kylie’s boyfriend Gideon (Xolo Maridueña), and the mysterious magical guide, Ian (Lee Pace).

The ties that bond.

Practical Magic 2’s strength comes from the bonds of family. Everything about this movie and book series are rooted in sisterly love and family ties. Their devotion is palpable in everything they do; from the spells to their banter. Whereas the first film centers on the bonds between the sisters, the sequel expands to the entire family – establishing the connections of love in each generation of Owens and their partners.

Most of the character dynamics from the original Practical Magic are carry over to the sequel. Bullock and Kidman have great chemistry together, channelling their long-standing bond. Sally and Gillian are lived-in characters, sisters who have experienced years together in their loving yet frustrating relationship. More so their banter, while exaggerated (more on this shortly), is still in line with their history.

The same goes for the campy, playful attitudes of the aunts. Wiest and Channing bring so much heart and comfort to these lovable witches, they’re essential for making Practical Magic what it is. It’s a shame that there is not a lot more of them in the sequel. Due to the plot, there’s a disconnection between expectations and Practical Magic 2‘s character groupings. The scenes we do get land very well, bringing plenty of nostalgia to the big screen.

All grown up.

The newest pairing in Practical Magic 2 is the now young-adult Kylie and Antonia. Similar to their relatives, they have strong chemistry that captures their sisterly bonds in a loving way. However, they also suffer from a lack of shared screen time. Longtime fans of Practical Magic understand their connection, but for new audiences, this assumption fails to translate. We shouldn’t just know that they’re close – this should be shown on screen. And based on the narrative, clearly one sister gets more spotlight than the other.

King does a good job in her role as Kylie. Her pain and desperation in trying to save Gideon is clear, as is her complex relationship with her mother. Kylie is fleshed out as a complete character, one who is both resistant to love but also dedicated to saving it. Antonia, on the other hand, is surface-level at best. Practical Magic 2 doesn’t give her much to do in the plot. Without giving any spoilers, if the movie were to remove her, the story would go on as is. She is there only because Sally has two daughters.

But even more egregious than Antonia’s lack of purpose is Williams’ continued breaking of character. Throughout Practical Magic 2, Williams’ English accent slips into Antonia’s dialogue. Once you’re aware of it, you can’t help but notice it. Williams’ overall performance isn’t consistent with Antonia’s characterization either.

Magical mischief.

Unfortunately, Practical Magic 2’s biggest hurdle is its inconsistency. The film goes for bigger magic, bigger bonds, and bigger romances, but it extends itself too much. A greater focus on magical lore and the Owens family history bloats the film, turning this tale into a convoluted witchy battle. Sometimes that battle is with itself as it tries to determine where and how it wants to chart its path. Nothing truly feels fulfilling by the time the end credits roll.

Practical Magic 2 is still an enjoyable watch, but the edges are rougher and bumpier than expected. For instance, Sally’s and Gillian’s characterizations are more surface-level than expected. Sally has become too closed-off, too tightly-wound since the original film. Practical Magic 2 provides context for why she is the way she is, but she’s lost some of the nuance and growth from the past. And let’s not even get started on her romance. Once again, without any spoilers, the chemistry and believability don’t translate to the screen.

Gillian, on the other hand, is wackier than before. It’s almost as if Kidman portrays Gillian as an eccentric aunt, one with a comedic touch. That’s a huge part of where Practical Magic 2‘s inconsistencies come from: the film tries to be a comedy. There’s banter between the sisters, the humor of scene gags, and inside jokes all over the story. These elements can add a lightness to the pacing and provide a good laugh, but other times are out of place. Practical Magic 2 is a romantic-fantasy, not a rom-com.

The bottom line.

Practical Magic 2 is a lighthearted sequel that is disconnected from its predecessor, both in tone and quality. Many elements return that provide a hint of what we love: the aunts, the sisterly bond, magical influences, etc. And the main cast captures some of the magic in their dynamics, reuniting the family after all these years. However, the disjointed plot points and the surface-level developments, including the third act villain that seems to come out of nowhere, hinder what could’ve been a magical sequel.

Practical Magic 2 is now playing in theaters everywhere. Watch the trailer below.

Images courtesy of Jaap Buitendijk/Warner Bros. Pictures.