It doesn’t take a film degree to diagnose the modern mainstream cinematic landscape with a severe run-down of the nostalgia bug, as we truly are well into the repetitive age of sequels, prequels, spin-offs, and revamps of many definitive classics from previous and distinct decades, garnering mixed responses from moviegoers. Sequels used to be, and should be, respectable and necessary developments and strengthenings of previous great films and characters, pushing the stories to new heights and rejoining the film’s fans together. Now they resonate differently, even bleeding beloved franchises dry.
The psychology or reasoning behind this engulfing flood of follow-ups to past films, now bearing into the utmost random assortment of films to follow up, ranges from a creative drought, profiting/comodification of nostalgia and quirky iconography to help Primark shift some branded pyjamas/makeup bags or bath bombs (try not to think of how much Beetlejuice Beetlejuice merchandise is now taking up space in a landfill) or to offer refuge for people who seek to return to simpler, happier times when today’s age proves to be too taxing.
Can’t handle the growing housing and rent crisis? Well, here’s a sudden sequel to a 90s classic! Pay for a ticket (or streaming service) and just sedate yourself by thinking back to how, when you went to see the first film, you could save for a sufficiently sized house on minimum wage and have some left over for Christmas presents.
The latest contribution to this current film fad involves the fantasy classic Practical Magic, released in 1998 by Warner Bros. and directed by Griffin Dunne, as written by Robin Swicord, Akiva Goldsman, and Adam Brooks, who adapted from the 1995 book of the same name by Alice Hoffman. The film stars Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as two witches who move in with their aunts after a long-standing family curse kills their parents. Under the loving embrace of their aunts, Sally and Gillian learn to use their own power while battling the Owens curse, which means any man who falls for them and has the feelings returned will die, started by an ancestor called Maria, who cast a spell out of the heartbreak of being abandoned by the father of her unborn child. If that wasn’t enough, the duo also have to deal with the fallout of Gillian’s abusive boyfriend passing when he returns as an evil spirit.
Additional cast members include Dianne Wiest, Stockard Channing, Aidan Quinn, Evan Rachel Wood, Goran Višnjić and Mark Feuerstein.
Nearly 30 years on, Practical Magic 2 is the romantic fantasy adaptation of the 2021 Hoffman sequel novel, The Book of Magic, directed by Susanne Bier, who works from a script penned by Akiva Goldsman,Georgia Pritchett, andKelly Marcel. It sees Bullock and Kidman reprise their beloved bewitching roles as the Owens sisters, alongside West and Channing as the sisters’ charming aunts. New cast members include Joey King replacing Woods as Sally’s eldest daughter Kylie, alongside Maisie Williams replacing Alexandra Artrip as the youngest daughter Antonia, with Lee Pace and Xolo Maridueña also appearing as new faces.
The Owens sisters are back-property of Warner Bros.
We Move From 1998 To 2026 In A Dignified Manner
As previously mentioned, sequels to cult classics which defined a decade’s image or ambience, as Dunne’s original film did for the whimsigoth, grunge aesthetic of the 1990s, divide fans into two teams: one immediately excited to see the follow up and flocking to the cinemas dressed for theme and others who immediately wince at the idea of a timeless classic being forced into this digitalised, sanitised new era where remakes are churned out like machinery and the original tone is buried six feet under.
Nonetheless, the latter team should fear now as Practical Magic 2 proves to be a refreshing and appreciated take on a contemporary sequel to a 90s classic. The creators should be respected for the fact that this wasn’t an update on a timely previous release which over-relies on its plot or humour being centred on the protagonists from a previous decade of a whole other world scrambling to keep up with our new times, such as losing her mind trying to navigate TikTok or ace the latest online lingo for the modern viewers’ amusement. Instead, Practical Magic 2 chooses to focus solely on just that: being a sequel to the first film and expanding on previous events. The film gets its head down and focuses solely on a progressing narrative as it builds on its predecessor, making solid efforts to expand upon lore displayed within the first film, as expected of a decent follow-up.
We see trickles of the Owens curse throughout, with its repercussions still impacting the family and severing them from the gift of love, instead being forced to misidentify it as a dooming flood bringing destruction and pain through loss. The dialogue makes great use of expressing this thematic value, with Gilly and Sally communicating the pain of having to stray from falling in love and being in love to save potential partners in a manner that is simple yet slightly lyrical, illustrating the whirlpool of emotions chained within such a conflicting dilemma. Practical Magic 2 elevates the curse from the first film by feeding it through to the new generation, displayed within Sally’s daughter Kylie, who is forced to come into contact with the curse despite not even knowing her powerful bloodline, fulfilling the sequel rule of detailed and carefully controlled expansion of narrative.
New characters also ease their way in and complement the original group, such as King’s Kylie providing a solid update on characterisation, owning her own path despite handing out respect to her mother and aunt, as well as Pace’s Ian Wright landing an intriguing academic component to witchcraft in the story.
Meanwhile, West and Channing are as bold, enthralling, lovable and amazing as before as aunts Jet and Frances, carrying a steady and beautiful amount of the sequel’s charm which will make you laugh and get teary-eyed.
Maisie Williams and Joey King are the new generation of the Owens coven-property of Warner Bros
Bullock And Kidman’s Dynamic Creates A Great Deal Of The Magic
Such a bold and beautiful highlight to Practical Magic 2 is the insane chemistry between Bullock and Kidman, still glowing gold after 28 long years. The duo are both exceptional in delivering a quintessential blend of comedy and drama in a natural manner, with the two distinct and well-rounded characterisations blending and bouncing off one another when the story needs it. As provided and complemented by some mindful writing, the sisters’ arcs are explored at a satisfying pace, with key emotional punches and breakthroughs soaring at ease as placed alongside softer, sweeter and more tender moments of gentle yet strong sisterhood. The film truly immerses itself within the thematic tapestry of womanhood and bonds tightening a family together in times of peril, balancing out the quirk, entertainment and humour with some powerful and emotionally poignant moments.
Trying To Replicate ’90s Whimsigoth In 2026’s No Man’s Land Of ‘Core’
Additionally, Practical Magic exists in pop culture as a quintessential staple in the soft grunge and whimsigoth aesthetic from its decade, which is still adored and replicated today, thanks to some enchanting cinematography, soundtrack, set design and costuming carried out by Andrew Dunn, numerous ambience artists, Robin Standefer & Stephen Alesch and Judianna Makovsky, respectively. While the original film carries its assigned visual and tonal composition effortlessly and magically, so to speak, the follow-up makes clear attempts to replicate the visual format previously seen, yet not in equal measure.
There’s still some great costuming, this time designed by Academy Award winner Alexandra Byrne, with big, bold colourful dresses worn by the aunts and grungy, witchy, toned-down outfits worn by the main sisters, as well as a gorgeously decorated home with flowers. Nonetheless, there are still some jumps for a solid, fitting atmosphere which fail to land.
Nicole Kidman returns as free-spirited Owens sister, Gillian-property of Warner Bros.
The sequel’s soundtrack strikes gold occasionally with the use of a Fleetwood Mac classic, but this band being incorporated in the Owens sisters’ new adventure goes without saying. However, the rest of Practical Magic 2’s song use does feel like a Gen Zer explained what’s considered witchy and whimsigoth using knowledge provided via Pinterest, TikTok and Spotify, which doesn’t have to be a strictly negative thing about the film. Yet despite what should be a tonally fitting use of Florence + The Machine in a film scene about young witches/women resonating with the power of womanhood and discovering a new power, it comes across as wedged in to get the sequel’s checklist of aesthetic up and falls flat, reading as a candle spark diminishing to nothing in the rain.
What could have been a brilliant needle drop sequence in a film which bridges ideas of witchcraft and women’s power across two standout decades of women’s rights and identities is instead a scramble and fall which leaves you saying, “Oh, I see what they were trying to do” yet also visualising its potential.
I personally would have loved to have seen an original song by Florence for this sequel’s soundtrack, doing for the whimsical, dark academia soft Gothic girls what Lady Gaga and Doechii’s original record for The Devil Wears Prada 2 did for the hyperpop, fashion girls.
It’s Almost As Though The Plot Didn’t Want A Villain
As the sequel’s narrative centres mostly on the sisters’ developing bond and the new storyline involving young Kylie, we are restricted from the conventional aspect of a clearly marked-out and characterised villain posing as a threat. We then, after getting used to this straying from conventional film storytelling, have to witness a random villain tossed in at the last minute. Despite the sudden and whiplash delivery, this story pivot comes in a majorly emotionally tense climax you somewhat have to force yourself to resonate with and accept for the sake of the beloved characters.
We also have a severe and puzzling case of complete underutilisation, or seemingly none at all, of Williams’ Antonia, with King’s Kylie taking full centre stage and spotlight. A strange case given the importance of sisterhood relayed in Practical Magic and even this sequel between Sally and Gillian.
Overall, Practical Magic 2 may not be a leading film you reach for to rewatch every year the second the temperature drops and a golden leaf hits the damp ground like you do its predecessor, yet it still holds its own ground in emotional weight, character development and a balance of fantasy, humour and drama. There is still a colourful and definitive love for the Owens family embedded within the sequel, despite its stylistic flaws compared to the original; yet the performances from original cast members do prevail.
