Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
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SALEM — October is just around the corner, which means it's time for pumpkin spice, fall leaves and Halloween movies.
While I enjoy a good scare here and there, I love quirky Halloween movies. Sure, they may be for kids, but who says I can't enjoy them as well? I had a blast with "Goosebumps," and "The House with the Clock in Its Walls" was the perfect amount of spooky and fun. I wasn't sure "Hocus Pocus" needed another chapter after 29 years, but I have to say it was worth a trip back to Salem.
The movie is far from perfect, and I have a couple of gripes, but there is also a fair amount to like about "Hocus Pocus 2."
The spells that worked
It's funny
"Hocus Pocus 2" isn't a laugh-a-minute romp, but it certainly earned some laughs. There are some great one-liners and a few standout characters we'll get to later.
Some of the funniest bits come from the Sanderson sisters being out of place in 2022. We got some of that when these witches appeared from the late-1600s into 1993 in the original film. I think we forget how much the world has changed in the past 30 years, and the Sanderson sisters are more lost than ever.
A trip to Walgreens is a real highlight, as are the Roombas that come into play.
Great new characters
It's fun to see Better Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy back in their roles as the Sanderson sisters. Still, it's the addition of some new characters made the sequel a lot of fun. A few standouts include the always funny Tony Hale as Mayor Traske, Sam Richardson as Gilbert and Froy Gutierrez as Mike. I won't ruin how each of these new characters plays into the saga of the Sanderson sisters. Still, they add a significant amount of humor.
There are also three new leads: Whitney Peak, Lilia Buckingham and Belissa Escobedo. These three have strong chemistry, and I found Escobedo particularly engaging.
A fun history lesson
I'll be brief on this point to avoid any spoilers. To begin the movie, we find ourselves in 1600s Salem with a glimpse of the young Sanderson sisters. This portion threatens to drag on a bit too long, but it's fun to see a small look into the beginning stages of the three witches.
The spells that didn't work
We abandon characters
While we stay with the main characters throughout the movie and get to watch their hero journey, we abandon others. The film sets up some fun characters with intriguing dilemmas, and then we lose them. There comes the point where their contributions are finished, and we don't hear from them again. This left me wanting and eager to see what happened to the characters we abruptly washed our hands of earlier in the film.
The ending fell flat
I will not give any spoilers, but the ending was a letdown for me. It felt as though the filmmakers had so much fun throwing together scenarios they forgot they had to end the film. The finale felt rushed and unexplored, not to mention the motivations didn't match the characters' personalities.
It wasn't a terrible ending, but it was disappointing.
What parents should know
"Hocus Pocus 2" is rated PG, and it's a fitting rating. There are very minor scares and a couple of sexual references, but nothing I would personally call offensive. Bad language is almost nonexistent; I would say it's very similar to the original.
Conclusion
"Hocus Pocus 2" isn't the best, but I thought it was a great family movie night as we get into the Halloween spirit. There is enough humor and spooks to keep the family entertained. Not to mention, the nostalgia for those who remember seeing the original nearly 30 years ago.
Editor's note: "Hocus Pocus 2" is rated PG for action, macabre/suggestive humor and some language.
