"Practical Magic 2" REVIEW
The Owens are back with their multigenerational curse; the one that continues to haunt them and their daughters as Sally proceeds to denounce her magical abilities and swear her sister, Gillian to secret all in an attempt to protect her two daughters from a life of lovelessness. When her youngest reveals that she in fact has a boyfriend who they recently have confessed their love, the curse strikes again causing the secret to be let out and sending her daughter on a trip to England to find family ties in hopes of saving her man and breaking the curse once and for all. What she doesn’t realize is it is a trap that is meant to take the magic hidden deep inside and at least attempt to mend yet another family feud. The question is can the curse really be broken and what is the ultimate cost as the women are reminded over and over that blood conquers all, even an angry warlock bent on taking what does not belong to him.
Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman reprise their roles near 28 years later as they captivate the magic inside. Additionally Dianne West and Stockard Channing do a fabulous job of passing the torch onto Kidman and Bullock as they usher in a new breed of magical generations. Finally the cast welcomes Maisie Williams and Joey King as Sally’s now grown daughters as the director clearly wanted the two to be spittng images of Bullock and Kidman. It was honestly like looking at a newer version through the “new” sister story. Both Willams and King do an outstanding job of matching the chemistry set forth by Kidman and Bulluck, while making way for the new generation that will ultimately take over. lastly the film welcomes Cobra Kai's Xolo Mariduena as well as Solly McLeod and Lee Pace to bring a little masculinity to the story as well as the forbidden love that they must fight.
Ultimately Practical Magic 2 like the original contains witty humor as well as spell bounding moments that will have audiences intrigued as to how the Owens sisters will get out of the next mess. One might say this one definitely has a more wholesome storyline that leaves things more hopeful even as the whole point is to strengthen the bonds of sisterhood. It certainly does that and more.
At 2 hours 10 minute run time Practical Magic 2 is a story to see with your sister or best friend in life. A story with a purpose and one that will leave you with a bit of a tear walking out with the ultimate sacrifice that truly sets the Owens women free once and for all. The movie came out September 10 and is currently playing at a theater near you.