Practical Magic 2 Review: A Charming Reunion That Loses Some of Its Magic
Practical Magic 2 is a welcome reunion with the Owens sisters, but its darker, more elaborate magic loses some of the warmth and charm of the original.
There is something undeniably lovely about seeing Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman back together as Sally and Gillian Owens. Nearly three decades after Practical Magic, the sisters return to the Owens family home alongside Diane Wiest and Stockard Channing, bringing much of the original cast back together.
Unfortunately, Practical Magic 2 never quite recaptures the charm of its predecessor.
Released in 1998, Practical Magic introduced sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, descendants of a long line of witches carrying a family curse: any man they truly fall in love with is destined to die. Sally attempts to distance herself from magic and pursue a conventional life, while Gillian embraces both her supernatural heritage and a more risqué romantic life. The sisters are eventually forced to confront the curse together, leading to a romantic and satisfying resolution for Sally, who has her childhood wish fulfilled.
The sequel begins by complicating that happy ending. Sally once again experiences the loss of someone she loves and has closed herself off from magic, determined to protect her daughters from the Owens family curse. When her daughter Kylie falls in love, entangling her in the Owens curse and the family’s mysterious magical history, Sally is drawn back into the world of witchcraft she has been hiding from, albeit with a push from the vivacious Gillian.
The film’s greatest strength remains the relationship between Bullock and Kidman. Their chemistry is delightful, particularly as Sally and Gillian continue to clash while remaining fiercely protective of each other. It is also a pleasure to see Wiest and Channing return to the big screen, while Bullock shares heartfelt chemistry with her onscreen daughter, Joey King.
The introduction of the younger generation of Owens sisters, however, leaves a lot to be desired. King is given plenty to do, but some of her character’s decisions are difficult to believe, while Maisie Williams is so underwritten that she feels closer to a supporting presence than a fully developed character.
The dialogue also feels underdeveloped at times, occasionally giving the impression of improvisation, particularly between Bullock and Kidman. Fortunately, the chemistry between the two carries some of these moments.
Where the film works best is in its exploration of sisterhood, motherhood and the mythology of witchcraft. The original Practical Magic offered a fascinating female fantasy, exploring magic passed down between generations of women, and the sequel continues to find its strongest material in those themes.
Ironically, its attempt to make the mythology bigger and the story darker is also where it loses some of the original’s magic.
The sequel introduces a more elaborate supernatural history and greater stakes, but in doing so it has to undo part of the emotional resolution of the first film. Sally’s happy ending in Practical Magic was one of the film’s most satisfying elements; beginning the sequel with that happiness effectively undone feels like a convenient step to justify giving the Owens family another story.
This creative choice leaves the sequel feeling as though it is trying a little too hard to justify its own existence.
Ultimately, Practical Magic 2 is enjoyable without being exceptional. The pleasure of seeing Bullock, Kidman, Wiest and Channing together again is considerable, and the themes of family, sisterhood and witchcraft give the film a warm emotional centre.
For audiences with a deep connection to the original, however, it may not be quite as satisfying. There was more charm to the simple magic of Practical Magic, and the sequel occasionally loses sight of that in its attempt to become something bigger.
