Practical Magic was a hit back in 1998, so this sequel seems like a long time coming. But the book it has been adapted from, by Akiva Goldsman, Georgia Pritchett and Kelly Marcel was not released until 2021. It is set twenty five years after the events of the first film, with the Owens family of witches facing a new crisis when a discovery regarding the family’s history and the origins of their magic comes to light. Much of the original cast returns, including Sandra Bullock as Sally Owens and Nicole Kidman as her younger sister Gillian. Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest are also back as Sally and Gillian’s aunts, Frances and Bridget.
I have not seen the original since it was first released so remember little about it. You do not need to know much about the back story to know what is going on, but if you are familiar with the characters, you will get more out of it.
I found it started slowly and took an age to end, but between that, there is enjoyment to be had, thanks mostly to Bullock’s immaculate comic timing. Maisie Williams was underused as one of her daughters, though.
A lot of the action takes place in what appears to be 1950’s England which felt a bit jarring, but all in all, it is a decent time passer.
Rating: 6 out of 10