A review of 'Practical Magic 2' highlights the return of Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as the Owens sisters, along with Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest. The sequel embraces the original's kookiness and navigates timeline fudging, generational curses, and new romantic entanglements, ultimately finding its strength in the enduring chemistry of its leads and the theme of sisterhood, despite its oddities.
The sequel to the 1998 cult classic 'Practical Magic' sees Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman reprise their roles as Sally and Gilly Owens, joined by Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest as their eccentric aunts. The film, directed by Susanne Bier, doubles down on the original's unique blend of genres and quirky elements. Sally, having given up magic after her second husband's death, erased her daughters' (Kylie, played by Joey King, and Antonia, played by Maisie Williams) memories of magic to protect them from the family curse. A significant timeline adjustment places the events in the early 2000s, allowing the actresses to maintain a certain age aesthetic. The plot kicks off when Kylie's boyfriend, Gideon (Xolo Maridueña), is cursed into a coma, leading Kylie to seek answers in England, followed by Sally and Gilly. The sisters encounter two contrasting male figures: an occult professor (Lee Pace) who encourages Sally's power, and a brooding warlock (Solly McLeod) who desires Kylie's. Despite narrative oddities and timeline inconsistencies, the review praises the enduring chemistry of Bullock and Kidman and the overarching theme of feminine solidarity and inherited power, concluding that the film, for all its quirks, still manages to cast a peculiar spell. 'Practical Magic 2' is set for release in US and Australian cinemas on September 10th and in the UK on September 11th.
