5/7 🪩🪩🪩🪩🪩🪩
Practical Magic 2 was fun. I honestly don’t remember much from the first film. Not because it wasn’t memorable, but because I have a horrible memory. Yet, I was still able to enjoy this one without remembering the original plot.
It was fairly easy to tell when the film was making a nod to the original, but those moments never made me feel like I was missing something important. It works surprisingly well on its own while still giving longtime fans plenty of callbacks to appreciate.
My biggest issue was how little magic we actually get during the first part of the film. Practical Magic 2 spends much of its first half feeling more like a family drama than a supernatural story. Once the magic, mystery, and darker elements begin taking over in the second half, I found myself much more invested. Without spoiling anything, I just wish we had gotten there a little sooner.
A lot of that comes down to the editing and pacing. The film felt long, and there were moments where I could feel the runtime more than I wanted to. That said, I’m curious to see whether the pacing makes more sense on a second watch, especially knowing where the story is ultimately going.
The acting was okay, but not great across the board. Some cast members definitely deliver stronger performances than others, which occasionally makes the ensemble feel a little disconnected. Thankfully, that chemistry improves as the film progresses, and by the end, everyone feels much more unified than they did at the beginning.
Visually, the film looks nice and the cinematography does a solid job of telling the story, but there wasn’t much that felt particularly memorable or daring. Nothing about it felt especially risky or avant-garde. I actually think both the visuals and the soundtrack played things a little too safe, especially for a world built around something as whimsical, mysterious, and visually exciting as magic.
Overall, Practical Magic 2 is an enjoyable return to this world and feels destined to become another movie people add to their annual Halloween rotation for years to come. There’s enough charm, magic, mystery, and nostalgia to make it worthwhile, but the uneven pacing kept it from completely casting its spell on me.
Emotion: 6/7
Editing & Story: 4/7
Visuals: 4/7
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