Beth Donovan, Online Screen Editor reviews Susanne Bier’s Practical Magic 2
2026 has been a year for legacy sequels, with The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Scary Movie 6 releasing over the summer. Practical Magic 2 has followed suit, bringing the beloved Owens sisters back to the screen 28 years after they first cast their spell.
Practical Magic 2 forces Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian (Nicole Kidman) to revisit their magic when the centuries-old curse – that any man who falls in love with an Owens woman is destined to die – threatens a new generation. After Sally’s daughter Kylie (Joey King) falls in love with Gideon, he is hit by a car and left in a coma, prompting Kylie to uncover the family curse her mother has hidden from her and her sister, Antonia (Maisie Williams). Determined to save Gideon, Kylie sets off on a journey to break the curse, with Sally and Gillian close behind.
Practical Magic 2 at times struggles as a piece of new storytelling: the plot is somewhat messy and predictable, and the script in places feels hastily assembled. Gillian is frustratingly reduced to comic relief in Sally’s story, with generic one-liners repeatedly forced in to highlight the contrast between her vivacity and Sally’s repression. Kidman does her best with the material, delivers them well and garners some laughs, but too often the jokes feel cheap, lacking the warmth that gave the first film its charm.
In comparison to its predecessor, Practical Magic 2 succumbs to the current era of ‘Netflix lighting’, slightly missing the cosy, autumnal atmosphere that helped render the first film a cult classic. The same can be said for its new sisterly relationship, with Joey King and Maisie Williams struggling to replicate the bond shared by Kidman and Bullock – not through any lack of chemistry, but because the pair are given a serious lack of scenes together. King delivers a fantastic central performance, carrying the film’s emotional arc and making it easy to root for Kylie, but Williams as Antonia feels notably underutilised within an already overcrowded plot.
Practical Magic 2 succumbs to the current era of ‘Netflix lighting’, slightly missing the cosy, autumnal atmosphere that helped render the first film a cult classic.
Elsewhere, Lee Pace is magnetic as Ian, and his chemistry with Bullock is one of the film’s highlights. It is a shame, then, that more time isn’t devoted to developing his relationship with Sally, instead of splitting the focus between the film’s numerous, rather underdeveloped storylines.
However, the film more than justifies its existence as a legacy sequel, offering longtime fans a nostalgic return to the original while introducing a new generation to its magic. It’s lovely to see Bullock and Kidman slip effortlessly back into the characters of Sally and Gillian, and the return of Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest as the beloved Aunts adds ample (bittersweet) heart to the story. There are countless nods to the original, and seeing the Owens house return to our screens brings an undeniable sense of comfort.
Bullock and Kidman slip effortlessly back into the characters of Sally and Gillian
Practical Magic 2 understands that sometimes a story doesn’t need to surprise you when what you’re craving is familiarity. Its predictability is therefore easy to forgive, particularly when accompanied by a stunning soundtrack, a beautiful celebration of sisterhood at its core and a returning cast that effortlessly rekindles their old chemistry while opening the door for its new generation. It may not cast quite the same spell as its predecessor, but Practical Magic 2 still offers enough warmth and nostalgia to make its return more than worthwhile.
