Writer/Director: Suzanne Bier
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman and Joey King
‘A Spectacular Sequel’
When it comes to the greatest movies ever made about magic, it’s worth discussing Practical Magic. It earned appreciation for its depiction of bonds between sisters that strive to be more than little women. On a personal level, I find the film about bonds between sisters relatable. I remember heartwarming memories of witnessing my mother forming bonds with her sister. A huge fan of the wizard of Oz, she admired witches which she felt deserved a deafening round of applause. Setting prejudices aside, my mother regarded her sister with pride. Like Sally Owens, my mother shared bonds with her sister that earned her affections. My mother’s bond with her sister began during childhood. Raised in a Pakistani household, she grew up in a family where stories of witches were told. Even when they didn’t get along well, my mother adored a sister casting a spell with tales of witches to tell. As powerful as the bond between the Owens sisters, they shared a strong relationship with bright futures. However, divorce brought my mother’s bond with her sister to a closure. When my aunt’s marriage deteriorated, she lost touch with a sister that she had once appreciated. After her marriage came toward a closure, my aunt cut contact with her sister. Faced with consequences that proved tragic, she couldn’t repair marriage by practical magic. Today, I’m happy to say my mother’s bond with her sister which was once cast away has improved in every way. If there’s any lesson my mother taught me during my childhood, there is no stronger magic in the world than sisterhood. Years later, I treasure an iconic film that’s become a magical reminder of my mother’s relationship with her sister.
As someone that has witnessed the practical hardships sisters go through, I loved “Practical Magic 2”. Released in 2026, Suzanne Bier’s latest film captures the magical bonds between sisters. Packed with breathtaking visuals, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s a spectacular sequel. At the centre of it all is Sandra Bullock, who embodies a woman sharing a bond with her sister. Although “Practical Magic 2” is practically perfect, it isn’t a flawless film. It’s unevenly paced, building to an ambiguous conclusion without resolution. Nevertheless, it offers engaging entertainment for fans of the fantasy genre.
“Practical Magic 2” follows a pair of sisters seeking to make their dreams come true. Sandra Bullock portrays Sally Owens, a passionate woman that regards her sister with affections. Assisted by her sister Gillian (Nicole Kidman), Sally has always kept her family’s curse hidden from her children. However, Sally’s life changes when her daughter falls in love causing danger. Facing practical obstacles that prove to be tragic, Sally questions her love for magic.
Suzanne Bier is fascinated with mothers in danger. Her iconic film “Bird Box” offered a breathtaking depiction of mothers seeking to protect children from an apocalypse that rocks. With “Practical Magic 2”, however, Bier has made her first ever fantasy film. It’s the filmmaker’s first attempt to create a sequel to a beloved fantasy movie but she succeeds tremendously. Evoking Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women”, Bier uses montages to capture the strong bonds between women. For instance, montages elevate the magical bond scene. During this unforgettable scene, Sally and Gillian form a bond together by discussing their love for practical magic. It brought back fond memories of my mother’s bond with a sister that adored magic deeply. Montages are tricky techniques. As Victor Fleming’s “The Wizard of Oz” suggested, montages elevate classic musicals. Nevertheless, it works tremendously in this movie. Using stunning visuals, Bier captures hardships sisters are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Practical Magic 2” that merits appreciation is the production. One area where the film improves significantly on its predecessor is the production-design. Evoking Joe Wright’s “Pride & Prejudice”, Bier effectively uses larger-than-life costumes to capture the intense conflict between prejudiced sisters that experience tension. Throughout the movie, Sally’s clothes reflect her tumultuous relationship with her sister. For instance, costumes elevate the argument scene. During this intense scene, Sally has an excruciating argument with her sister over their past family history. It reminded me of my mother’s frightening arguments with her sister after her marriage had deteriorated. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden that sisters bear. Through phenomenal production-design, Bier honours a commemorated film about sisters that shine.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Practical Magic 2” is a fantasy sequel that’s well worth seeing. In Hollywood, most movies rarely ever address the emotional issues faced by sisters that are misunderstood. For instance, Ang Lee’s “Sense and Sensibility” depicted sisters forming strong bonds without ever facing any tragedy. Thankfully, however, “Practical Magic 2” avoids the pitfalls of the genre. Evoking Steven Spielberg’s “The Color Purple”, Bier effectively uses silence to capture reconciliation that sisters experience. For instance, silence elevates the blood oath scene. During this heartfelt scene, Sally reconciles with Gillian mending her broken relationship with her sister through their blood oath. It reminded me of my mother’s emotional reconciliation with her sister mending broken bonds after years of tension. Silence is a complex technique. As Robert Zemeckis’ “Cast Away” suggested, silence elevates films about island survival. Nevertheless, it works immensely. Through a spectacular screenplay, Bier honours a fantasy film that’s beloved today.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Sandra Bullock delivers one of her best performances as Sally Owens. Bullock achieved appreciation playing women in coming-of-age movies. With “Practical Magic 2”, however, the actress took on her most complex role. It’s challenging to portray a woman seeking to repair bonds with family but she succeeds. Evoking Michelle Yeoh in the Daniels’ “Everything Everywhere All At Once”, Bullock embodies a mother seeking to save her daughter from violence. With riveting expressions, she captures the angst, bravery and grief faced by a woman seeking to mend family relations. It’s a powerful performance from one of the finest actresses working today.
While the movie is mainly a showcase for Bullock, the supporting cast is also spectacular and worthy of appreciation. Nicole Kidman is captivating, capturing the compassion of a woman seeking to assist her sister protect her children. Joey King is dazzling, bringing authority to a teenage girl seeking to protect her boyfriend from a curse that’s frightening. Lastly, Lee Pace merits praise. As a magic professor, he is unforgettable.
Despite its powerful performances, however, “Practical Magic 2” can’t quite honour a classic fantasy film that audiences value. If there’s a minor shortcoming to the movie, it lacks engaging pacing. Bier’s decisions to integrate subplots about teenage love into the movie is bold but hinders the pacing. Due to this faulty technique, scenes capturing Kylie’s romantic affair with her boyfriend aren’t as engaging as Sally’s bond with her family. As Catherine Hardwicke’s “Twilight” suggested, subplots about teen love elevate vampire movies. Moreover, the film lacks a compelling ending. It’s an abrupt conclusion that fails to bring the movie towards a satisfying resolution. At worst, it perpetuates stereotypes about sisters that aren’t true to reality. Therefore, “Practical Magic 2” can’t quite honour a classic fantasy film about sisters that audiences adore.
Nevertheless, fans of Sandra Bullock will definitely enjoy “Practical Magic 2” and so will audiences seeking magical entertainment. A spectacular sequel, it honours a beloved fantasy film that’s special.
Nearly 30 years following the release of an iconic film about the magical bonds between women that are practical, it’s a remarkable reminder that stories of sisters are worth telling in movies audiences consider special.
As powerful as Sally’s bond with her sister, it has motivated me to move on many years after witnessing my mother part ways with her sister that experienced divorce disaster by treasuring an inspiring caregiver whose love for magic inspired me to accomplish my lifelong dreams of becoming a successful writer.
4/5 stars
The Film Buff 