It’s been 28 years since we first met the Owens sisters, and now they’re back to face the generational curse that has followed their family for decades and end it once and for all. After all these years, the magic, the sisterhood, and the consequences of the Owens family legacy return for another chapter.
We’re casting a spoiler warning, as certain plot points from the film will be discussed.
This is SEA Wave’s High Five Review of Practical Magic 2.
The Curse Lives On
Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock return in ‘Practical Magic 2’ | Still from Warner Bros.
Practical Magic 2 reinterprets the 1998 original’s ending by revealing that the family curse was never actually destroyed. The film clearly undoes the original’s happy ending to set up a continuation. At the same time, it brings the story closer to its source material: Practical Magic 2 is based on The Book of Magic, which explores the secret behind breaking the curse.
In this chapter, the curse continues to drive the story and shape its characters, but the urgency to break it grows as it now threatens the next generation of Owens women, particularly Kylie. Her story reinforces how the Owens family can never truly escape the consequences of their past.
Echoes of the Past
Sally Owens reaches out with her magic | Still from Warner Bros.
A redhead’s in trouble, and the brunette comes to her rescue. It happened in the first movie; it happens again in Practical Magic 2. And that’s not the only thing that will give you déjà vu.
The sequel’s story leads Sally Owens down a magicless, loveless path, putting her right back where she was in the first film and forcing her to confront an old struggle all over again. But Sally’s story isn’t the only familiar thread in Practical Magic 2. Many of its character dynamics and plot points mirror its predecessor.
Some feel recycled, while others work as fun callbacks. But not everything about this sequel is a retelling.
A Whole New World
Practical Magic 2 takes us beyond Salem, Massachusetts, revealing that the Owens lineage stretches back to a rustic village in the United Kingdom. There, the film uncovers a lost piece of family history and, with it, an enemy connected to the Owens bloodline. It’s an intriguing addition, but the reveal comes too late.
The sequel also trades some of the original’s grounded magic for something more mystical, with a certain book deepening the film’s magical mythology and becoming a pivotal part of the story.
But while the film finds new ways to broaden its magical world, it doesn’t give all of its characters the same room to grow.
A Coven Short a Witch
Joey King and Maisie Williams take over as adult Kylie and Antonia Owens, replacing Evan Rachel Wood and Alexandra Artrip | Still from Warner Bros.
Maisie Williams was underutilized as Antonia, making her more of a bystander while Joey King’s Kylie became the center of the story’s conflict and resolution. Aside from Antonia’s queer storyline and pregnancy being cut from the film, she was reduced to a side character who wasn’t even in the climactic finale.
Gillian’s romantic plotline from The Book of Magic also didn’t make it into the film. Giving her a chance at love again could have been a refreshing direction for her character. Instead, Sally gets another love story while Gillian’s was left on the page.
But while the film missed the mark on these and other storylines, it didn’t lose its spark where it mattered most.
Midnight Margaritas Forever
The Owens women enjoying their favorite midnight drink | Stills from Warner Bros.
It’s bittersweet to say goodbye to certain characters, but the film handles their legacy with care, giving them moving send-offs that show how death can hold meaning and purpose, rather than simply loss and tragedy. Then, nostalgia kicks in when you realize that the torch has been passed down from one generation to the next.
The Owens women are ready to take flight | Stills from Warner Bros.
While the film has a cauldron of issues, it doesn’t lose its spark thanks to its cast, who bring these characters to life through their performances. It’s an imperfect film, but its faults are softened by its ability to keep the essence of Practical Magic alive.
A sisterhood across generations that transcends the big screen.
Whip up the midnight margaritas, and see it for yourself.
SEA Wave rates Practical Magic 2 3 out of 5 waves.