Twenty-five years of narrative time separate the events of Practical Magic from its sequel. In Practical Magic 2, enough time has passed that there’s a new generation of witches in the Owens family’s New England home.
It struck me that that narrative distance is actually less time than has passed in the real world; a full 29 years have gone by since the original film was released. So: why now? If there’s an answer, it’s not present on screen.
A Gentle, Witchy Warmup for Spooky Season in Practical Magic 2
We rejoin the Owens sisters — happily supernatural Gillian (Nicole Kidman) and anxious, resistant Sally (Sandra Bullock) — with their families gathered in their autumnal New England home. All candles, thoughtful scarves and full glasses, the opening scenes of Practical Magic 2 do not contain a plot so much as a well-appointed Pinterest board.
As was the case in the original film, however, tragedy interrupts the mood. Kylie Owens (Joey King), eldest daughter of Sally, has fallen in love with a floppy-haired hunk (Xolo Maridueña); that means trouble, as the Owens line is still cursed to have their lovers meet an untimely end.
This sends Kylie off to search for a solution in the United Kingdom, as the film trades New England for the old one without much of an aesthetic shift. Here, the film devolves into a drab plot that might be out of Harry Potter, albeit interspersed with considerably more reflections on sisterhood.
Occupying the Unsatisfying Middle Ground Between Mood Piece and Weird Fable
Had Practical Magic 2 been merely a few weeks in the life of some charming witches (played by talented folks), it might’ve come together. Had we dispensed with some of the callbacks and meandering, there’s a chance it would’ve worked as an enjoyable caper. Instead, it’s neither; too dire to be playful, too constructed to be charming, too cautious to be surprising.
The first Practical Magic is quite good; it takes stars at the peak of their charisma and gives them license to approach a fantastical story with madcap energy. Here, the weight of the years and overly maudlin direction (from Bird Box helmer Susanne Bier) do not leave room for the shaggy fun of the original.
We all enjoy the occasional nostalgia hit, and recapturing Practical Magic was worth trying. Unfortunately, some movies are inextricably the product of their time. You can look back, but the view is never quite the same.
Cinematic Flotsam Arrives in Theaters as We Wait for Awards Season
With no disrespect to less-heralded features, early September has become a bit of a dumping ground — too late for summer, a bit too early for the five-month grind of the awards campaign. Besides Practical Magic 2, we’re mostly left with curiosities when it comes to new releases this weekend. It’s a big weekend for Brit-pop fans, at least, as Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger arrives in cinemas. The film documents the band’s reunion tour and includes the first joint interview from the mercurial Gallagher brothers in more than a decade; due to the relative lack of competition this weekend, it’s even getting some premium-format screens. Go feel supersonic, fans.
Runner, starring Owen Wilson, also sneaks into theaters this weekend. The script — from a pair of newcomers, Miles Hubley and Tommy White — was rescued from the so-called “Black List” of well-regarded screenplays that struggled to find a studio. Reviews are lukewarm, so perhaps the story is better than the execution, but it may be worth a shot for action fans. (And it’s not to be confused with the Amazon film The Runner, which itself is only a couple of weeks old. Try harder with these titles, Hollywood!)
Speaking of repetition: The Uprising, a drama starring Andrew Garfield as a young Robin Hood, also hits theaters this weekend. This is the second Robin Hood picture of the year, after A24’s middling The Death of Robin Hood a few months back. (At least they differ in the age of the Robin Hood presented.) Despite having well-regarded filmmaker Paul Greengrass as both writer and director, The Uprising has been met with scant praise.
But, There’s Plenty More to See in Theaters Now…
Last week, we wondered if anything could beat Spider-Man at the box office — and the answer was yes. Like so many suitors, we assumed Odysseus wasn’t coming back, but The Odyssey made a surprise return to the top spot on the weekend charts, edging out the Marvel film to reclaim the crown. We’ve got positive reviews of both films, so feel free to catch up with whichever you missed. We also liked last week’s bronze finisher, Coyote vs. Acme, a delightful celebration of animation — and friendship! As for last week’s review topic, the historical drama By Any Means, the less said, the better — good, then, that no one bothered to go see it.
Explore this summer’s past releases with Sean’s line-up of the summer blockbuster season.
About the Author
Sean Collier is the editor-in-chief of Shady Ave and the arts and culture editor of TABLE Magazine. Before joining the TABLE Media team, he spent nearly 15 years as a writer, editor and columnist at Pittsburgh Magazine. As the in-house film critic for the top-rated WDVE Morning Show since 2009, he’s been Pittsburgh’s most widely heard voice on movies for nearly two decades. A Pittsburgh native, Sean has since 2020 appeared weekly on KDKA-TV’s popular Pittsburgh Today Live talk show. He’s the co-founder of Vigilance Theater Group and an active stand-up comedian and event host. He can be found on Instagram and Twitter at @seancollierpgh.
Photos Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
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