DianneWiest – Credits Rolling

Practical Magic was released in 1998, but it wasn’t until many years later that it became a true cult classic. This is a film that I revisit every single year on Halloween. It is one of my all time favorites and when I heard that they were adapting Alice Hoffman’s The Book of Magic, I was hesitant. While we had the source material already and it wasn’t just some random legacy sequel, I did not know what to expect going into it. So I just tried to buckle myself up for the ride.

After the death of her second husband, Sally Owens (Sandra Bullock) makes her sister Gillian (Nicole Kidman) promise that they will never tell Sally’s daughters the truth about who they really are. Fast forward a few years and now Kylie (Joey King) and Antonia (Maisie Williams) are living normal lives and doing their normal jobs. But when Kylie tells her boyfriend Gideon (Xolo Marideuna) that she loves him, it prompts the curse that has engulfed their family for centuries to threaten his life. Willing to do whatever it takes to save him, Kylie travels to England in search of the truth of her family and to find out how to finally end the curse once and for all.

Stepping back into this world was effortless. Seeing the house and Maria’s Island once more on the big screen was just such a treat. The original was intimate yet impactful and luckily the sequel managed to build upon those same sentiments. We got to learn more about the lore and be witness to another side of witchcraft which was delightfully creepy and depicted in such a cool way.

Having Bullock and Kidman reprise their iconic roles as the Owens sisters was a gift I didn’t know I needed. They effortlessly fell back into these characters, tapping into all those things that made them so lovable in the first place. Their chemistry, always at the forefront of the film, is as strong as ever. I could literally watch them onscreen together a million times over. Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest also returned as the aunts Franny and Jet and it was equally as lovely to see them again too. Taking over as Kylie and Antonia are King and Williams. I thought they were perfectly cast and King really helped carry the emotional weight of the film. Unfortunately Williams was severely underutilized to the point where I almost forgot she was there. They really couldn’t have found a way to include her into Kylie’s whole arc? I can’t forget to mention Lee Pace who was also along for the ride as a warlock named Ian Wright. Obviously introduced as a new love interest for Sally, I did enjoy getting to know his character and thought that he fit in well.

The film isn’t perfect. The script is clunky and often times quite cringy with its dialogue. But it was also very funny and it captured that same essence that I feel every time I watch the first one. The first film was also a bit off in tone, campy if you will, and I do think that this one just elevated that. The bond of sisterhood and the message of girl power is still very prominent and that is why it works.

Overall, I may have been unsure of Practical Magic 2, but it exceeded my expectations. I think fans of the original will enjoy it for all the nostalgic throwbacks (and there are plenty) as well as the dynamic duo that is Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. This truly has made me even more excited for the fall and for spooky season to begin.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

I didn’t know what to expect from I Care A Lot. All I knew was everyone and their mother was talking about how amazing Rosamund Pike’s performance in it was. Frankly that was enough to gauge my interest. What I didn’t bargain for were the emotions this film took me on. I was gripped from the get go and can’t get over how eye opening it was at the same time.

Marla Greyson (Rosamund Pike) is a legal guardian who always gets off scot-free when she screws over her clients. Up until now she and her partner – in crime and in life – Fran (Eiza Gonzalez) have never had any problems. When Marla decides to target Jennifer Peterson (Dianne Wiest), however, she lands herself in hot water. Jennifer’s son Roman (Peter Dinklage) is a powerful gangster who will stop at nothing to make sure his mother is safe.

This movie is pegged as a comedy thriller and I definitely agree with that. At times it seems as though the comedic aspects don’t quite fit in, but I am glad that they are there because it is a nice balance to the darker nature of the story.

To reiterate what everyone has said about Rosamund Pike’s performance, I do believe that this is one of her best yet. We may not see her in a lot of projects, though when we do, she always gives 110% to whatever the role is. In some ways, I like how the character of Marla has been compared to Amy Dunne from Gone Girl. They are both conniving, ruthless and badass. I definitely think that Rosamund’s Golden Globe nomination is well deserved. In addition, the rest of the cast are brilliant too.

I think that what struck me the most about I Care A Lot is that it is based on true events. Being an elderly person in the United States is no easy feat these days because people really do pose as legal guardians in hopes of getting money. On top of this being eye opening, it was also educational and kind of scary.

I Care A Lot was a surprise for me. The fact that it was unlike what I was expecting it to be in the best way possible was just a bonus. It took me on a rollercoaster journey and I really loved every moment of it.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥