Review: Practical Magic 2: “Enchanting, but a sisterly connection is hard to ignore”

Practical Magic has been one of my go-to Halloween movies and a total comfort film for years. So, you can imagine my excitement when I heard a sequel, Practical Magic 2, was finally on the way after 28 long years! The big question is, does it live up to the spellbinding charm of the original?

When it comes to the plot, Practical Magic 2 hits some decent notes. It still revolves around sisterhood and magic, which is great! We get to see our beloved sisters, Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian (Nicole Kidman), but there’s something missing. While the bond between Sally and Gillian remains strong, we barely scratch the surface of the sisterly relationship between Kylie (Joey King) and Antonia (Maisie Williams). In fact, they share hardly any memorable scenes together, which leaves a gap at the heart of the story.

The curse that haunts the Owens women is back, and it’s just as haunting as ever: if one of them falls in love, that love is doomed. When Kylie learns about this curse, she decides to take matters into her own hands, but unfortunately, she does it all solo instead of involving her sister.

Practical Magic 2 has some fantastic moments sprinkled throughout, and I can see how they’ll resonate with fans. However, it just doesn’t quite capture the deep family bond that made the original so magical. Everything looks stunning and enchanting, but the absence of a strong sisterly connection in this sequel is hard to ignore.

If you’re eager for a dose of magic, you can stream Practical Magic 2 now, but be prepared: it might not quite have that same warm, fuzzy feel that we all adore from the original.