By Bob Garver
Apparently I blinked and the 1998 chick flick “Practical Magic” developed a huge cult following. The film, about witch sisters Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian (Nicole Kidman) Owens somehow warranted a sequel in 2026 that was the first to win a weekend over “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” at the domestic box office. What kind of spell has this franchise cast on the moviegoing public? The Owens sisters, along with their kooky aunts Franny (Stockard Channing) and Jet (Dianne Wiest), come from a long line of witches that are cursed to lose their male partners. Sally’s children Kylie (Joey King) and Antonia (Maisie Williams) have already lost two father figures. Now Kylie is in danger of losing her boyfriend Gideon (Xolo Maridueña) unless the curse can be broken through a perilous trip to England that Sally and Gillian want to stop. The movie is, in its best moments, agreeable and little more. I’m not saying that the appeal of Bullock and Kidman playing witches who share the ins and outs of sisterhood is completely lost on me, especially when they’re sharing funny or touching moments with wily veterans Channing and Wiest. What I’m saying is that these movies can’t “just” be about these women enjoying happy hour. Like its predecessor, “Practical Magic 2” falters when it tries to deliver more than the laughs and tears that people expect. In other words, it doesn’t work as a thriller. There’s so much uninspired mystery- solving and action here that the film is over two hours long. I was chanting, “Just end already” like an incantation by the time the credits rolled.
Grade: C
“Practical Magic 2” is rated PG-13 for some violence, intense thematic elements and sensuality. Its running time is 130 minutes.
Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.
