Practical Magic 2: Film Review

There is not much space for any character other than the famed Owens sisters here. Sally’s daughter Kylie’s importance to the story affords Joey King more screen time than I would’ve liked as I can’t bring myself to stand her, but her other daughter Antonia might as well not even be in the film. Every male character suffers from thin characterization as well, particularly Xolo Maridueña’s randomly important Gideon, but I bear less issue with that since the film is (or, at least, should be) about women. It’s evident that Bullock and Kidman are the stars here, I just wish the film was written less with that in mind. 

A gripe I have with both Practical Magic films: Everything is about sisterhood and the power of sisterly love, yet the entire plots of both films function around a man’s life. In the first, Gillian’s abusive boyfriend dies and is resurrected (more than once) and becomes the central antagonist. In the second, the story doesn’t start until Kylie’s boyfriend Gideon is incapacitated by a severe car accident, leading Kylie - and her mom and aunt - on a journey to save his life. 

I’m sure there’s a (better) version of this film where saving the man is more of an afterthought, but I’m not reviewing the film I want to see - I’m reviewing the film that I saw. 

Practical Magic 2 is TOO DAMN LONG. Late in the film, there’s a scene where the third act antagonist - a young man who agrees to help Kylie under false pretenses - is delivering his motivation monologue. There’s a moment where his sound drowns out, and Bullock’s Sally has an entire conversation with her daughter during it. That’s what the whole movie felt like to me, especially as we entered the overlong third act. 

The 130-minute film (almost an entire half-hour longer than the original) drags on and on - a common issue with long-delayed sequels as the filmmakers clearly feel it important to allow the nostalgia-baited audience as much time in the film’s world as possible - to points where I start to care about something else, even during important moments. The story ends about 25 minutes before the film does, and it’s only further emphasized by the film’s excessive music cues and needle drops. 

Sandra Bullock, in her first role since 2022, plays “Type A” very well. In many of her films - Miss Congeniality, The Heat, etc - her comedy comes from that personality type, and this film is no different. Her Sally is the perfect hilariously angsty mom against Kidman’s Gilly and her laid-back, “Type B” aunt, and the two still have great chemistry together. Kidman’s performance never quite leaves the flitty drunkard arena, but it’s always fun to see her have fun on a set. 

I must also say that this film’s depiction of sisterhood between the two characters doesn’t do much to dispel the already-popular lesbian headcanon that fans of the last thirty years have ascribed to the original film. Obviously, these characters are straight and siblings, but surely the writers must know they’ve only added fuel to the brightly burning AO3 fire. Those fan-fiction writers are going to have a BALL this time around. 

Maybe it was the two large margaritas we were gifted as the audience at my press screening, but a part of me enjoyed Practical Magic 2 more than the original film. The first clearly feels like a more novel idea, though both are based on a book series, but the second has a much more comedic execution and stronger emotional beats. Whether because of the film itself or the at least 50 oz. of pineapple coconut margarita swirling through me in a dark theater, I just felt more invested this time around, even with the story and pacing issues. 

Viewed on 9/1/26 at press screening

Published on 9/8/26