After 29 years since the witches of Salem last appeared on screen, Disney is back with a sequel for Hocus Pocus that is a fun ride with few occasional bumps.
The film retains the original cast of Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, and Doug Jones. While the new additions include Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo, Lilia Buckingham, and many more.
-Hocus Pocus 2 Review Contains No Spoilers-
There was a pattern with Disney movies that was becoming way too common. A typical sequel to cult classics and fan favourites usually turned into a repetitious and unnecessary continuation. Something which also affected their recent original projects as well.
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I started missing old Disney stuff that had the power to take you back to innocent times. Where you did not need much convincing to register a talking wall clock or a smart coordinating group of Dalmatians. I thought, maybe it was the redundant live-action remakes and not the fact that I am no longer 13. Because let’s be fair, people of my age group are not the target audience for Disney (we used to, but not now).
That’s where Hocus Pocus 2 proved me wrong. A film that had all the elements to reignite the innocence, and bring back the magic of Disney movies. I am not saying it’s a perfect movie, but it’s a story about sisterhood and the bond for togetherness, that you will surely love.
The film starts in 17th-century Salem, where the young trio of sisters is compelled to follow the orders of the church. The reverend wants the eldest of them to marry a local town boy. And instead of complying with the authority, they run deep into the forbidden forest and meet the Mother Witch (played by Hannah Waddingham). Eventually, they end up becoming the famous witches of Salem, and also the strongest clove of all time.
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However, the sequel is not about the 17th-century fate of the trio, it’s about the modern-day resurrection of the witches by happenstance, and their plan to take Salem down.
It is not hard to predict what comes next, but that’s not the point. The ultimate goal is to watch the sisterhood have fun and complete its notorious adventure in the 21st-century setup.
The humour in the film works and doesn’t look stale. Mostly, due to the acting prowess of Midler, Parker, and Najimy. Where the approach is not a conventional ‘Make it stupid and funny’ but ‘Make it genuine and funny’ one.
I am prone to get emotional with movies, and the Hocus Pocus sequel is not an exception. The culminating end and the rhetoric monologue by Bette Midler is a perfect example of it. Even though the pace of the film prohibits any patience, Midler creates a moment of her own. The way she brings goosebumps by reciting only a few sentences reminds you of her great calibre as an actress. It’s almost refreshing to see one of the greats have a go at it.
Although there are some issues with the excessive green screen usage, the fun return of the Salem witches definitely makes it worth your while.
Hocus Pocus 2 Final Verdict
If you are done missing the Disney nostalgia, then the sequel for the cult classic should be on your watch list. It will remind you of the fun ride, and leave you with a message of togetherness.
You can stream the movie on Disney+Hotstar. Tell us your thoughts about the sequel in the comment section below.