REVIEW: ‘Practical Magic 2’ Casts a Familiar Spell, But Falls Short

Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman return as the Owens sisters in the long-awaited follow-up to their 1998 hit Practical Magic. Nearly 30 years later, Practical Magic 2 attempts to recapture the charm, humor, and sisterly bond that made the original such a beloved Halloween favorite. This time, the duo is joined by the younger generation of Owens women, portrayed by Joey King (Kylie) and Maisie Williams (Antonia).

Based on Alice Hoffman’s book The Book of Magic, the new story finds Sally Owens (Bullock) having wished away her magic. After another tragic death in her life, Sally casts a spell that causes her daughters to forget that they are witches. For years, she keeps her powers—and the family’s history—hidden as her daughters grow up and begin lives of their own. But, as any fan of the Owens family knows, secrets have a way of coming back to haunt you.

When Kylie falls in love with Gideon (Xolo Maridueña), the Owens curse returns with a vengeance. Desperate to save the man she loves before it’s too late, Kylie is pulled into a world of magic she was never supposed to remember. With the help of her sister, Gillian (Kidman) and a professor of magic, Ian Wright (Lee Pace), Sally must find a way to save her daughter before the curse claims another victim.

Unfortunately, Practical Magic 2 never quite captures the magic of its predecessor.

Almost 30 years later, Bullock and Kidman still have the spark. Their chemistry remains effortless, and it is easily the best part of the movie. Bullock’s physical comedy and Kidman’s perfectly timed one-liners make it feel like no time has passed since the two first stepped into the Owens kitchen. Whenever they are together, the movie comes alive.

The problem is that the rest of the movie struggles to keep up.

The overall story lacks the emotional weight and sense of wonder needed to make this sequel truly magical. Bullock and Kidman do everything they can to elevate the material, but even their chemistry can’t completely overcome a story that feels underdeveloped and, at times, unnecessary.

As someone who has never read Hoffman’s book, I can’t say whether these problems originate with the source material or with the adaptation. Screenwriters Akiva Goldsman, Georgia Pritchett, and Kelly Marcel have plenty of interesting material to work with, but the movie never quite figures out what it wants its story to be.

That becomes especially apparent with the younger Owens women. Several characters feel as though they were added simply because a sequel needed a new generation, rather than because they have an essential role in the story. Williams’ Antonia is the biggest example. She is so underutilized that she could have been removed almost entirely without significantly changing the plot.

That is particularly disappointing because the heart of the original Practical Magic was never just the magic. It was the relationship between Sally and Gillian. Their bond, complicated history, and unconditional love gave the original its emotional foundation. Practical Magic 2 tries to pass that legacy to the next generation, but the connection never feels as strong.

King does make the most of what she is given. Kylie spends much of the movie bouncing between two very different emotional states, and King handles those transitions well. She brings vulnerability and energy to the role, proving that she can carry the younger generation of the franchise.

Unfortunately, the script doesn’t give her enough to really establish Kylie as her own character. It would have been far more interesting to see her develop a stronger relationship with Bullock and Kidman and explore what it means for her to become the next Owens witch. Instead, much of her storyline revolves around saving Gideon.

The same can be said for Williams. She is a talented performer who is given surprisingly little to do. Antonia could have been an important piece of the Owens family dynamic, but the character is never developed enough to make an impact.

The supporting cast suffers from similar problems. Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing return as Aunts Jet and Franny Owens, and their presence is certainly welcome. Unfortunately, the two are given far less to do than fans would probably hope. Seeing them back on screen brings an immediate sense of nostalgia, but the movie rarely takes advantage of it.

Lee Pace fares somewhat better as Ian Wright, the handsome professor of magic. Pace has plenty of screen time and brings his usual charm to the role, but his character’s story never fully develops. His relationship with Sally is another example of the movie rushing through something that needed more time. Bullock and Pace have chemistry, but there is little buildup to their romance, making the relationship feel more forced than organic.

And then there is the ending.

The final act feels like the filmmakers suddenly remembered they were making a Practical Magic sequel and decided to cram every bit of nostalgia they could into the final 10 minutes. Familiar faces, callbacks, and emotional moments are thrown at the audience, but instead of feeling earned, they feel rushed. The climax itself is underwhelming, and the resolution doesn’t deliver the satisfying payoff the story desperately needs.

That may ultimately be the biggest problem with Practical Magic 2: it spends too much time trying to remind audiences why they loved the original instead of giving them a new reason to love this one.

Fans of the first movie will undoubtedly flock to see the sequel, and there is enough nostalgia here to make the trip worthwhile. Is it as good as the original? No. Not even close.

But Bullock and Kidman are still worth watching. Their chemistry remains the beating heart of the franchise, and whenever the two are together, Practical Magic 2 comes closest to finding the charm it is missing.

The movie may not cast quite the right spell, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t some magic left.

If you don’t plan to see it in theaters, check it out when it hits streaming. While it falls short as a sequel, Practical Magic 2 could still find a second life as a yearly Halloween watch for fans of the Owens family.

Grade: C