To be honest and fair, when the first ‘Practical Magic’ movie came out in 1998, I thought it ended just fine.
In fact, I never needed a sequel or more on the Owens family’s story – if I did, I’d just borrow the books form the library or buy them on the cheap.
Still, I never had the urge, but once I caught the trailer for ‘Practical Magic 2’ a few weeks ago, I was curious and had to add it to my list.
Naturally, I also waited a few weekends until the crowds calmed down and watched it last week.
Overall, it’s sort of a cute film that reinforces family ties amid secrets and the consequences of keeping secrets, too!
I did enjoy how realistic Sally and Gillian Owens sibling relationship was still strong despite their respective actresses having done their own thing in separate paths.
Still, the storyline seem weak nd rushed, but it had enough comedy to keep me engaged for the most part.
Practical Magic 2 is a romantic fantasy film directed by Susanne Bier from a screenplay by Akiva Goldsman, Georgia Pritchett, and Kelly Marcel, based on the 2021 novel, The Book of Magic, by Alice Hoffman.
As the sequel to Practical Magic (1998), the film stars Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Dianne Wiest, and Stockard Channing reprising their roles from the previous film, alongside new cast members Joey King, Lee Pace, Maisie Williams, and Xolo Maridueña.
The movie clocks in at 130 minutes and is rated PG-13 for some violent content, suggestive material and brief strong language.
In Massachusetts, the Owens family is cursed by a spell cast by their ancestor Maria Owens.
Once cast, any man who falls in love with an Owens woman dies.
Sisters Sally (Bullock) and Gillian (Kidman) believe that they broke the curse, but Sally's second husband Gary dies soon after they are married.
Grief-stricken, Sally rejects her magic and casts a final spell to make her daughters Kylie and Antonia forget about magic, hoping that the curse will never affect them.
Years later, Sally and Gillian's aunt Jet (Wiest) follows a raven portend to the Book of Raven, which contains instructions to break Maria's curse, but crucial pages are sealed.
Jet, knowing she will die soon, leaves a note with the book for her sister Frances (Channing) to continue her work.
Kylie (King) and Antonia (Maisie) return home for Jet's birthday, which they celebrate with Sally, Gillian, and the aunts.
After Jet dies, the family holds a wake at the house, where Sally and Gillian finally meet Kylie's boyfriend Gideon (Mariduena).
Later that night, Kylie tells Gideon she loves him and the morning after, he is hit by a car and hospitalized in a coma.
Kylie confronts Sally about the rumors that she and Antonia grew up knowing about an Owens curse.
Sally, pressed by Gillian, admits that she hid their magical heritage, leaving them unprepared.
Kylie, angered, steals the Book of Raven, hoping to find a way to save Gideon.
She experiences visions that guide her to England.
Sally and Gillian follow her and, as advised by Frances, search for Ian Wright (Pace) - a professor specializing in magic.
At the same time things only get more complicated fort he Owens family while emotions run high and fear threatens to tear them all apart.
However, I can say that the ending is happy and the Owens family does manage to break the curse – but that’s all I’m going to tell you about it.
Catch it in theaters now if you want to know more or see how it all plays out on the big screen.
