Disney tries to ride on winds of ‘Top Gun’ style nostalgia to cash in on magical miscues
Is Hocus Pocus 2 a smart continuation of the classic witch tale, or just drawn out too long to be revamped? The original movie, released in 1993, brought together all aspects of a good, family-friendly Halloween flick: comedy, friendships, romance, magic, black cats, and of course, spooks. These aspects wove their way into the story itself, which was consistent and left audiences with a good sense of closure… so why are we going back to this well some 30 years later? Be warned, spoilers lurk ahead…as much as one can spoil a rehash of a decades-old movie, anyway.
The movie starts with a flashback of the Sanderson Sisters' history in 1653, Salem. The three witches, Winifred Sanderson (Bette Midler, Oliver & Company), Sarah Sanderson (Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex and the City), and Mary Sanderson (Kathy Najimy, Descendants 2), are banished after Winifred refuses to marry John Pritchett (Thomas Fitzgerald, Stage Mother). The girls escape into the forbidden forest and are met with Mother Witch (Hannah Waddingham, Game of Thrones), who gifts Winifred the magic spell book for her 16th birthday. This is where the three sisters learn how to kill children to keep their youthful beauty and about the spell “Magicae Maxima,” which is important for the latter part of this movie. This scene as a whole does a good job of displaying that signature attitude each sister has, something that never went away as they got older.
Jumping to the present time of 2022, two teenagers of Salem, Becca (Whitney Peak, Gossip Girl) and Izzy (Belissa Escobedo, The Baker and the Beauty) are planning a birthday celebration in the woods. They visit the local metaphysical shop, conveniently refurbished from the old Sanderson cottage, where they are given a candle by the shop owner, Gilbert (Sam Richardson, Werewolves Within). Gilbert happens to own a black cat, an interesting detail referencing the original Hocus Pocus and the cursed cat, Thackery Binx. The cat, however, is a talking feline with a young boy inside. Once the day has turned to night, the two light the candle in the woods, and it ignites into the Black Flame Candle. The Black Flame Candle is the jinxed wax light that, if lit by a virgin under a full moon on All Hallows Eve, would bring back the Sanderson sisters. This is a key plot point kept consistent between the two movies, as well as the dramatic fashion of the sisters themselves when they are brought back from the grave.
In an attempt to outsmart the Sanderson sisters, Becca and Izzy take the three to a Walgreens, where they attempt to become youthful by drinking skincare products targeted at re-aging. This is an obvious play at the witches, who need to suck the souls out of children to stay youthful. The girls escape and find out that Gilbert had tricked them into lighting the candle while the three witches take to the skies, putting a modern spin on a similar scene from the original Hocus Pocus.
The Sanderson sisters make their way to Mayor Traske (Tony Hale, Toy Story 4), in an attempt to once again wreak havoc on the town of Salem. To stop them, Becca and Izzy make their way to the house of the daughter of Traske and an old friend, Cassie (Lilia Buckingham, Crown Lake), who's throwing an unapproved Halloween house party. The two get trapped in the basement of Cassie’s house, as the witches send Gilbert to collect all the materials for their spell, Magicae Maxima. As another attempt to draw from the original, Hocus Pocus 2 brings back Billy Butcherson (Doug Jones, Hellboy), with his head as the main ingredient.
As the story progresses, Becca and Izzy reunite with Cassie, and everyone ends up in the forbidden forest once again. This is where Anne Fletcher, director of the film, decides to add a little twist up in the story. Becca discovers that she is also a witch and convinces Winifred’s book that it isn’t bound to being but a slave to the Sandersons. It’s an interesting take, and quite frankly, one expected for a modern sequel. All while this occurs, the Sanderson sisters are conjuring their spell, which is basically a dangerous spell that will make its user all-powerful. However, the book reveals that in order to complete the spell, one must give up what they cherish and love most (which sounds like something out of Avengers Endgame). As the primary spellcaster, Winifred must unknowingly give up her sisters.
To follow her stubborn attitude, Winifred ignores the warnings given to her by the book and the three girls. As a result, Sarah and Mary fade into dust, gone for good, leaving the lone witch to beg to be reunited with them. Becca and the others use their newly discovered powers and do just that. However, the only way to do so is to fade Winifred into dust as well. She happily passes and the legend of the Sanderson sisters fades with her, bringing a bittersweet ending to the short two-movie set.
Although the comedic aspect is missing from many scenes within the film, Hocus Pocus 2 definitely delivered a cute, family-friendly story that was lighthearted and easy to follow. Its small references from the original, like the black cat and the ridiculous broom flying scene, added another level of detail to the plot that added to its welcoming atmosphere. These details also brought back sweet memories for the older generations who grew up watching the original. The movie had an interesting modern take that definitely fit the generation for which it was produced, which added to the plot as a whole. Overall, Hocus Pocus 2 is a bit of a cheesy sequel, but one that has character, and is one for watchers of all ages to enjoy.
B -- Although nobody was really begging for a sequel and the comedic aspect lacks, Disney did a good job trying to revamp the original movie for a newer generation.
By Len Kloss
Oshkosh West Index Volume 119 Issue II
October 31 2022