Directed by Anne Fletcher
Written by Jen D’Angelo
Story by David Kirschner, Blake Harris and Jen D’Angelo
Based on characters created by Mick Garris and David Kirschner
Starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Sam Richardson, Doug Jones, Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo, Tony Hale and Hannah Waddingham
USA, 2022
I know what you’re thinking: HOCUS POCUS 2 is not a horror movie. Well, it has (at least) three witches in it, and a zombie, and takes place on Halloween, so back off.
Almost 20 years after the original, the witches played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy return! Basically a retelling of the first movie, with a couple things changed here and there to keep it at least a little fresh, HOCUS POCUS 2 is sort of like the opposite of HALLOWEEN ENDS – instead of taking a hard left turn, it really leans into the fact that it’s a sequel, and delivers pretty much exactly what you’d expect, and want, out of a HOCUS POCUS sequel.
Bette Midler and her chums are just as funny as they always were, interacting like Abbot and Costello, if there were three of them. Oh, I guess that’s what you call THE THREE STOOGES. It’s refreshing to see Sarah Jessica Parker take on a role other than Carrie Bradshaw – over the years I’ve almost forgotten she’s a comedic genius. All three stars give it their all and step into their roles as if they just played them yesterday, turning in performances brimming with physicality and impeccable comic timing and chemistry.
I also liked a couple of the supporting cast members, specifically Tony Hale as the town’s mayor, a super nice (if spacey) guy, hell-bent on getting a candy apple at the town’s Halloween party, and Sam Richardson as an amateur warlock and proprietor of the local magic shop. Both of these characters could have been played as villains, but instead they’re well-meaning generally nice guys, and that’s an example of why this movie works: it’s light-hearted, fun and genuinely positive.
Did we need a HOCUS POCUS 2? No, not really. Is the one we got the best-case scenario? Yes, probably.
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