Abracadabra 2

I don't understand how fans of the first film would want to trash this.

The story offers a mix of prequel information, first film nostalgia and a decent revival of our characters. It isn't without flaws but after nearly thirty years, I found the plot interesting and fun to watch. The characters are older but still gave nice performances and the new characters weren't awful.

Most sequels fail to live up to the original film and you know this before sitting down but that doesn't mean they aren't fun to watch. I personally liked seeing the characters brought back and can honestly say that I enjoyed the experience. In my opinion, had the 1993 original not been made, simply cutting the references to it would've made this a fine stand alone film.

To each their own.

Hocus Pocus 2 uses a plethora of nostalgic references to the 1993 film. It follows basic legacyquel rules - bringing back characters and repeating old narrative concerns for a new audience. However, it's almost exactly the same premise, just set in contemporary times and touches on contemporary discussions around female empowerment.

Some of the jokes are funny, and Bette Midler brings star power, but I can't help but think this sequel tarnishes the original. Hocus Pocus 2 didn't have the fun and thrills of the first film. It is very Disneyfied. More child friendly, and has no real antagonist.

As a fan of the first film who watched it as a child, I hoped this sequel would have a continuation of story, and would trigger nostalgia in a positive way. Unfortunately, it was a disappointment.

Took sheer will power to get through the first 10 minutes it was like watching a middle school play. The 3 young witches were acting like they were waiting for us audience members to clap for how "cute" they were acting and it wasn't cute. So goofy! In a bad way. Terrible over the top acting!!! Everyone was trying way too hard. The first one felt grounded in reality within the fantasy of it, we could relate to the characters and it is such a great comfort movie I have watched every Halloween. This movie belongs at the bottom of the trash bin in what I would label as generic. All the actors were acting with a capital A! It's trying way too hard. The one playing the boyfriend, Froy something was so animatedly over acting it was painful. You may like this film if you're of the brainless and passive influencer crowd, but I don't know how a fan of the original could love this. I feel violated. Casting and films today are all about cheap optics and not good story telling.

Hocus Pocus 2 (2022) is a movie my wife and I watched on Disney+ last night. The storyline follows the Sanderson Sisters who are accidentally brought back to life by a group of young ladies who may be up and coming witches themselves. As the Sanderson Sisters make plans to stay on Earth forever the young ladies need to find a way to stop them.

This movie is directed by Anne Fletcher (The Proposal) and stars Bette Midler (Beaches), Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City), Kathy Najimy (Sister Act), Sam Richardson (We're the Millers), Doug Jones (Hellboy) and Whitney Peak (Home Before Dark).

It was impressive to see the cast back together and the songs and soundtrack were excellent. Every song and dance routine was really good and I loved Doug Jones as Billy in this. Midler, Davis and Najimy were as entertaining as you hope. Disney really kicked the special effects up a notch and the depiction of Salem was entertaining and fun. There is a healthy dose of cheesy mixed in here but if you remember the age target for the content you can get over it. The ending was a nice opportunity for continuation, likely as a Disney+ television series.

Overall, this was a step down from the first one but still worth a watch. I would score this a 6.5/10 and recommend seeing it once.

In a time where Disney seems to struggle for new material, a sequel to a 29-year-old cult classic could've easily gone wrong. However, the movie is clever, enjoyable and the Sanderson sisters return is lots of fun.

Similar to the original, expect some camp witchcraft, spells through music and dance, and Winnie, Mary and Sarah once again on the hunt to be young, beautiful and to survive past dawn.

I watched the original earlier to refresh myself, but the movie does a great job of standing alone whilst also referencing key scenes in the 1993 film which have impact on the 2022 storyline.

Overall, a lot of fun for what it is and sure to be popular amongst those of us that grew up loving the original. A shame the kids from the first film didn't make a cameo!