Rani Singh
Twenty-eight years after Practical Magic became an unlikely cult favourite, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman return as Sally and Gillian Owens. The sequel understands what audiences missed most: the chemistry between its two stars, the eccentric Owens family and a world where heartbreak, sisterhood and witchcraft are inseparable.
Director Susanne Bier brings the family back together without trying to reinvent its peculiar mixture of fantasy, romance and comedy. The result is warm, visually inviting and occasionally moving, although the overcrowded story struggles to justify its lengthy running time.
A new generation inherits the curse
Sally has once again turned away from magic. After suffering another devastating loss, she erased her daughters’ memories of their supernatural heritage, hoping to protect them from the Owens family curse. That plan collapses when her daughter Kylie, played by Joey King, falls in love and her boyfriend Gideon is placed in danger.
Kylie travels to England in search of answers, bringing Sally and Gillian back into a family struggle they believed was over. Maisie Williams joins the younger generation as Antonia, while Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest return as the wonderfully unconventional aunts Frances and Jet.
The plot introduces ancient magical knowledge, dangerous new characters and another attempt to break the curse. Unfortunately, the screenplay keeps adding complications when the emotional problem is already clear. Some revelations feel hurried, while other scenes linger mainly to recreate moments fans remember from the original.
Bullock and Kidman remain the real magic
The film is strongest whenever Bullock and Kidman share the screen. Bullock plays Sally with familiar nervous energy, making her fear of magic feel connected to grief rather than simple stubbornness. Kidman’s Gillian is lighter and more instinctive, but there is sadness beneath her confident manner.
Their performances make the relationship feel lived-in. A glance, an irritated reply or a shared silence often says more than the film’s heavier dialogue about family and sisterhood. Even when the story wanders, their presence keeps it emotionally grounded.
Joey King brings urgency to Kylie, although her character sometimes functions more as a reason to restart the curse than as a fully independent personality. Williams receives less to do than expected, while Channing and Wiest effortlessly restore the original film’s mischievous atmosphere whenever they appear.
Lee Pace is an entertaining addition as an occult professor connected to Sally’s journey. His character gives the film some welcome romantic energy, even if that part of the story never becomes as convincing as the bond between the Owens women.
Too much nostalgia, but enough heart
Bier gives the sequel an attractive autumnal look filled with candlelight, old houses, botanical details and moonlit magic. The atmosphere is carefully designed to please viewers who still associate the first film with cosy seasonal viewing.
At times, however, that affection becomes excessive. Familiar music and recreated rituals are presented as emotional shortcuts. The returning “midnight margaritas” sequence is enjoyable, but it also shows how often the sequel relies on recognition instead of surprise.