It’s nearly impossible to recapture the magic of long-ago predecessors, which means legacy sequels are rarely a winning proposition. Practical Magic 2, however, is a unique case, since its 1998 ancestor is, in most regards, pretty terrible—making it far easier for Susanne Bier’s sequel to surpass it.
More coherent and polished while retaining the endearing chemistry of its leads, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, it’s no classic follow-up à la Top Gun: Maverick, but it casts a cute enough spell.
The least enchanting aspect of Practical Magic 2 (September 11, in theaters) is its 130-minute runtime, which is 20 minutes more than its story warrants and results in a post-climax wrap-up that drones on for a veritable eternity. Until it drags its feet on its way to the finish line, however, the film is a reasonably charming reunion with Sally (Bullock) and Gillian Owens (Kidman), who, 30 years after they last graced the screen, look and behave exactly as before.
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