Practical Magic 2 Feature Scores
Explore all 44 feature scores for Practical Magic 2, organized into pros and cons.
Scores by Feature
Summary
44 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.08 (18%)
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Positive 3.5-4.49 (20%)
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Neutral 2.5-3.412 (27%)
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Negative 1.5-2.411 (25%)
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Very negative below 1.54 (9%)
Pros
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Bullock and Kidman’s sisterly chemistry is the most consistent strength, repeatedly described as effortless, joyful, and essential. Romantic chemistry is much more uneven, especially around Sally and Ian.
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Bullock and Kidman remain the movie’s most dependable attraction, with many reviews praising their ease, charisma, and return to Sally and Gillian. A smaller but forceful group criticizes the performances as mannered or undercut by weak material.
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Fan-oriented reactions are considerably warmer than the critical consensus, with multiple reviews saying longtime viewers are the group most likely to enjoy the return.
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Emotional response is highly split: some reviewers cried repeatedly and found the family losses deeply moving, while others thought the climax had not earned its emotional weight.
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Supporting performances are generally liked, especially Joey King, Lee Pace, Dianne Wiest, and Stockard Channing. Maisie Williams is repeatedly described as underused or squandered.
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Production design is a strong visual asset, with praise for jewel-toned spaces, fairy-tale architecture, cozy details, and attractive locations.
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The sisterhood and female-solidarity message lands strongly for many reviewers, though one critique argues the sequel undercuts that theme by centering heterosexual romance too heavily.
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The sequel earns credit for expanding the Owens mythology and magical world, though some reviewers think the added lore contributes to an overstuffed story.
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The musical score is praised alongside the soundtrack for helping carry the story between lighter and darker material.
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The soundtrack remains a clear strength, with praise for its music choices and the way it helps bridge the sequel’s lighter and darker moments.
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The Stevie Nicks-inspired witchy costuming is singled out as a joyful part of the sequel’s aesthetic.
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The strongest realism praise goes to Bullock and Kidman’s sisterly dynamic, which one review says feels like real sisters clashing and reconnecting.
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One review sees real progress in keeping women in their late 50s and early 60s at the center of a studio sequel rather than pushing them aside.
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One favorable review specifically welcomes the use of practical effects instead of leaning entirely on CGI.
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One positive reaction says Lee Pace’s mysterious character kept the reviewer guessing about his intentions until the end.
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Genre response is divided between viewers who enjoy the witchy romance-and-sisterhood blend and critics who see a weak legacy sequel with diminished magic.
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One positive review likes that the film draws heavily from the source novel without feeling so beholden to it that casual viewers are shut out.
Cons
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The roughly 130-minute runtime is one of the strongest points of agreement, repeatedly described as overlong, criminally long, or far longer than the story can justify.
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The screenplay is the most repeated major complaint, criticized as weak, overstuffed, repetitive, contrived, and unable to support the ensemble or emotional stakes.
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The plot is one of the most criticized elements, repeatedly described as convoluted, thin, improbable, contrived, or mechanically assembled.
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Dialogue is a recurring complaint, described as woeful, repetitive, flatly informational, and at times painfully unfunny.
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Character growth is one of the clearest weaknesses. Reviews repeatedly say returning characters regress or stagnate, while Antonia and other supporting figures are given too little development.
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Tone is a persistent weakness, with reviews describing the sequel as a tonal mess or unable to settle between comedy, drama, whimsy, and darker supernatural material.
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Pacing is consistently weak, with complaints about plodding stretches, grinding mystery mechanics, and a story that takes too long to reach an obvious destination.
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The cinematography draws sharp criticism for an antiseptic, colorless look that loses much of the original film’s warmth.
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Critical response is plainly weak, with the supplied coverage repeatedly noting low review-aggregation scores and broadly negative notices.
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Many reviews say the sequel repeats old beats and legacy-sequel formulas, though a minority feels it finds a fresh enough continuation without simply recycling the first film.
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Most reviews see too much nostalgia and repetition, calling the sequel a retread or IP exercise. A few positive voices argue it honors familiar elements without merely copying them.
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Editing is criticized for letting scenes drag or trail off and for odd cutaway choices that make the movie feel less polished.
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One harsh take calls the CGI climax poor, adding to complaints that the larger-scale magic looks less convincing than it should.
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Comedy is inconsistent: Bullock’s timing and some physical comedy earn praise, but several reviews say the recurring jokes and comic beats simply do not land.
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One review says the sluggish writing and pacing drain the life-or-death material of stakes, leaving the movie ineffective as drama.
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Susanne Bier’s direction divides reviewers. A few appreciate moments of warmth and looseness, but others criticize the pacing, flat staging, and lack of the original’s fairy-tale charm.
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The look is divisive. Some praise jewel tones and polished imagery, but many miss the original’s warmer texture and criticize the sequel as flat, glossy, or antiseptic.
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The shift toward a more genuinely spooky or creepy tone does not work for at least one reviewer, who says it clashes with the franchise’s lighter whimsy.
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Entertainment value is mixed. Warm reviews find the reunion funny, heartfelt, and easy to enjoy, while negative reviews call it tedious, boring, or barely watchable.
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Value depends heavily on fandom: one reviewer recommends waiting for streaming, while another felt the theatrical polish justified spending money on a ticket.
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Romance is uneven. Joey King and Xolo Maridueña’s pairing earns warm praise in one review, while Sally and Ian’s subplot is frequently called forced or lacking chemistry.
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The family, grief, and sisterhood themes resonate strongly for some reviewers, while others find the transgenerational-trauma ideas overwritten or shallow.
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The ending sharply divides opinion. One reviewer calls the extended wrap-up useless and deadly, while another finds it fun, uplifting, and emotionally satisfying.
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Rewatch potential is polarized: one enthusiastic review calls it easy to revisit beside the original, while another says it will not be returning next Halloween.
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Effects opinion is split: one review praises the de-aging work, while another mocks the broader effects as distinctly unspecial.
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Story reactions range from heartfelt and satisfying to threadbare and bloated, reflecting the wider split between emotional fans and critics frustrated by the plotting.
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The cast is a major point of disagreement: several reviews call the performances charming or excellent, while others find the acting corny, awkward, or badly matched to the material.
Cast & Creators
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KylieKing is one of the most consistently praised additions, often called terrific, solid, or a source of needed emotional urgency. Even positive assessments note that the script can make Kylie frustratingly impulsive.
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GillianKidman’s return as Gillian is widely enjoyed for its looseness, comic energy, and rapport with Bullock. Some critics dislike the ditzier direction of the character or feel the writing reduces what she can do.
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SallyBullock is one of the sequel’s biggest draws, repeatedly praised for warmth, comic timing, and her chemistry with Kidman. A minority of reviews finds Sally’s performance overly awkward or constrained by the script.
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JetWiest’s return is warmly received, with reviews praising the elegance, warmth, and emotional weight she brings to Jet despite limited screen time.
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FrannyChanning is welcomed back with strong affection, and reviewers credit her with elegance, warmth, and emotional heft even when the story sidelines the older generation.
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Ian WrightPace is highly divisive: several reviews call him magnetic, charming, compelling, or a standout, while others see Ian as a romantic misfire whose chemistry with Bullock feels forced.
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GideonMaridueña receives limited individual discussion, but the reviews that evaluate his contribution praise the sweetness and organic chemistry of his pairing with Joey King.
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DirectorBier’s direction gets mixed-to-negative notices. Some reviews appreciate moments of warmth and loose comic energy, while others blame the staging, pacing, and flatter visual approach for draining the sequel’s charm.
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WriterGoldsman’s screenplay contribution is criticized in one review for trading the original setting’s insular charm and Wiccan texture for a weaker travel-comedy structure.
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WriterPritchett’s screenplay contribution is criticized in one review for sacrificing the original’s community charm and Wiccan texture in favor of a weaker travel-comedy approach.
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WriterMarcel’s screenplay contribution is criticized in one review for sacrificing the original’s community charm and Wiccan texture in favor of a weaker travel-comedy approach.
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CinematographerDuggan’s cinematography is criticized in one detailed review for contributing to an antiseptic look that lacks the inviting warmth associated with the original.
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AntoniaReviews generally like Williams but repeatedly object to how little the movie gives her to do. Antonia is often described as sidelined or squandered rather than as a weakly performed character.