Review: Bullock and Kidman Reunite for 'Practical Magic 2,' a Nostalgic but Uneven Sequel

A new review published by The Guardian's Culture section examines "Practical Magic 2," the sequel to the 1998 cult film "Practical Magic," noting that Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman have returned to reprise their roles as sorceresses from the original.

According to the review, the film also brings back Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest as the eccentric aunts of the Owens family, the witchy clan at the center of the story. The original 1998 film was described in the review as "a compellingly bizarre mashup of genres, aspirational 90s fashion and sisterly affection," set in what the critic called "Puritan-lite Massachusetts."

The reviewer observed that the sequel arrives amid an intensified cycle of nostalgia-driven media, noting that films like the original rarely reach theaters anymore, while algorithms increasingly promote unsolicited sequels and imitations of earlier cultural touchstones, including references to Bullock's "impeccable vintage 90s Levi's."

The review characterizes "Practical Magic 2" as an anomaly in the current entertainment landscape—both an expected outcome given ongoing nostalgia trends and an oddity, given that it is a matrilineal romance comedy, though not a traditional romcom, centered on two lead actors in their 60s.

Despite acknowledging that the film cannot escape being labeled nostalgia bait, the critic wrote that the original "Practical Magic" remains "so idiosyncratic in tone and, well, kookiness," that a sequel holds a degree of appeal. The review describes the new installment as "as strange and messy as the first" but notes it offers "warm seasonal pleasures."