{"id":81895,"date":"2022-09-29T16:19:02","date_gmt":"2022-09-29T16:19:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/a-review-of-hocus-pocus-2\/"},"modified":"2022-09-29T16:19:02","modified_gmt":"2022-09-29T16:19:02","slug":"a-review-of-hocus-pocus-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/a-review-of-hocus-pocus-2\/","title":{"rendered":"A Review Of Hocus Pocus 2"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<figure class=\"sc-1eow4w5-1 eLNveM align--bleed js_lazy-image js_marquee-assetfigure\" data-id=\"9df8f2bfc2dbb9f1f944514c40fe6097\" data-recommend-id=\"image:\/\/9df8f2bfc2dbb9f1f944514c40fe6097\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-width=\"1999\" data-height=\"1124\" data-lightbox=\"true\" data-recommended=\"false\" data-hide=\"false\" contenteditable=\"false\" draggable=\"false\">\n<div class=\"sc-1eow4w5-2 loxZOX has-data img-wrapper\" contenteditable=\"false\" style=\"max-width:1999px\" data-link-reference=\"\" data-link-target=\"\" data-syndicationrights=\"false\" data-imagerights=\"other-license\" data-hide=\"false\" data-hidecredit=\"false\"><span class=\"sc-1eow4w5-0 dnhHtZ js_lightbox-wrapper\"><\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:56.2%\" class=\"sc-1eow4w5-3 lktKQM image-hydration-wrapper\">\n<div><img alt=\"(from left): Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson, Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson, and Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson in Hocus Pocus 2.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.kinja-img.com\/gawker-media\/image\/upload\/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80\/9df8f2bfc2dbb9f1f944514c40fe6097.jpg 80w, https:\/\/i.kinja-img.com\/gawker-media\/image\/upload\/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,pg_1,q_60,w_140\/9df8f2bfc2dbb9f1f944514c40fe6097.jpg 140w, https:\/\/i.kinja-img.com\/gawker-media\/image\/upload\/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,pg_1,q_60,w_265\/9df8f2bfc2dbb9f1f944514c40fe6097.jpg 265w, https:\/\/i.kinja-img.com\/gawker-media\/image\/upload\/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,pg_1,q_60,w_340\/9df8f2bfc2dbb9f1f944514c40fe6097.jpg 340w, https:\/\/i.kinja-img.com\/gawker-media\/image\/upload\/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,pg_1,q_60,w_490\/9df8f2bfc2dbb9f1f944514c40fe6097.jpg 490w, https:\/\/i.kinja-img.com\/gawker-media\/image\/upload\/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,pg_1,q_60,w_645\/9df8f2bfc2dbb9f1f944514c40fe6097.jpg 645w, https:\/\/i.kinja-img.com\/gawker-media\/image\/upload\/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,pg_1,q_60,w_740\/9df8f2bfc2dbb9f1f944514c40fe6097.jpg 740w, https:\/\/i.kinja-img.com\/gawker-media\/image\/upload\/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,pg_1,q_60,w_965\/9df8f2bfc2dbb9f1f944514c40fe6097.jpg 965w, https:\/\/i.kinja-img.com\/gawker-media\/image\/upload\/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,pg_1,q_60,w_1165\/9df8f2bfc2dbb9f1f944514c40fe6097.jpg 1165w, https:\/\/i.kinja-img.com\/gawker-media\/image\/upload\/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,pg_1,q_60,w_1315\/9df8f2bfc2dbb9f1f944514c40fe6097.jpg 1315w, https:\/\/i.kinja-img.com\/gawker-media\/image\/upload\/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,pg_1,q_60,w_1465\/9df8f2bfc2dbb9f1f944514c40fe6097.jpg 1465w, https:\/\/i.kinja-img.com\/gawker-media\/image\/upload\/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,pg_1,q_60,w_1600\/9df8f2bfc2dbb9f1f944514c40fe6097.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"&#10;&#9;&#9;&#9;&#9;(max-width: 25em) calc(100vw - 32px),&#10;&#9;&#9;&#9;&#9;(max-width: 37.31em) calc(100vw - 32px),&#10;&#9;&#9;&#9;&#9;(min-width: 37.37em) and (max-width: 49.94em) calc(100vw - 32px),&#10;&#9;&#9;&#9;&#9;(min-width: 50em) and (max-width: 63.69em) 800px,&#10;&#9;&#9;&#9;&#9;(min-width: 63.75em) and (max-width: 85.19em) calc(66.5vw - 32px),&#10;&#9;&#9;&#9;&#9;800px&#10;&#9;&#9;&#9;\" draggable=\"auto\" data-chomp-id=\"9df8f2bfc2dbb9f1f944514c40fe6097\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-alt=\"(from left): Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson, Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson, and Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson in Hocus Pocus 2.\"  data-anim-src=\"\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><figcaption class=\"sc-1ptbguh-0 hxeMec caption\">(from left): Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson, Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson, and Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson in <em>Hocus Pocus 2<\/em>.<\/figcaption><figcaption class=\"sc-7s1ndr-0 ikKPtM has-caption\">photo<!-- -->: <!-- -->Disney+<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span data-id=\"9df8f2bfc2dbb9f1f944514c40fe6097\" data-recommend-id=\"image:\/\/9df8f2bfc2dbb9f1f944514c40fe6097\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-width=\"1999\" data-height=\"1124\" data-lightbox=\"true\" data-recommended=\"false\" data-hide=\"false\" class=\"js_recommend\"\/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"sc-77igqf-0 bOfvBY\">The best thing that can probably be said about <span><em>Hocus Pocus 2<\/em><\/span><em> <\/em>is that it could have been so much worse.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-77igqf-0 bOfvBY\">Playing like a big-budget \u201cDisney Channel Original Movie\u201d for the millennial crowd but with a more character-driven narrative,<em> <\/em>this overdue sequel to the 29-year-old original offers a surprisingly clever and, at times (blushes) heartfelt continuation of the Sanderson Sisters&#8217; bewitching ways.  Here, their latest resurrection by way of the Black Flame Candle forces them to cross paths with three teenage girls who have magical ties of their own.  using <em>Hocus Pocus<\/em> more like a modular foundation than sacrosanct canon, director Anne Fletcher (Netflix&#8217;s <em>dumplin<\/em>&#8216;) and screenwriter Jen D&#8217;Angelo find an inventive way of expanding upon the OG movie by reaching into the main characters&#8217; past and softening the trio of witches&#8217; more sinister edges as they once again wreak their unique, PG-brand of havoc on the town of Salem. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-77igqf-0 bOfvBY\">Whereas the first <em>Hocus Pocus<\/em> struggled to maintain narrative momentum thanks to its clunky structure and slightly above Dad Joke-level sense of humor, <em>Hocus Pocus <\/em>2 (minus one shoulder shrug of a musical number) uses the franchise&#8217;s witchcraft and world-building to earnestly explore timely themes of identity and inclusivity, for a follow-up that fans may begrudgingly concede is better than the original.<\/p>\n<aside contenteditable=\"false\" class=\"cqxoak-0 dYgJmK align--center js_lazy-image\">\n<section title=\"Hocus Pocus 2\" media=\"[object Object]\" class=\"tt91rb-3 WMkHs reviewbox-inset\"><span class=\"tt91rb-4 eULPfL\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dwli7r-3 hAZWBO\">\n<header class=\"e0r41v-0 fbWhc\">\n<div class=\"dwli7r-1 lnTOrs\">\n<p>2022<\/p>\n<p>Comedy\/Family\/Fantasy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"dwli7r-6 cYBGFb js_editable-postertrailer\">\n<div class=\"z8q4k7-2 jaFELh\">\n<div class=\"z8q4k7-0 cFckbp\">\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tt91rb-6 erkurY\">\n<div class=\"tt91rb-0 hhRjKE js_movieinfo-cast\">\n<h2 class=\"tt91rb-7 kJNPPE\">CAST<\/h2>\n<div class=\"js_carousel_placeholder movieReviewCast cast\">\n<div class=\"tt91rb-5 bDuKRb\">\n<div class=\"z6xlsc-6 dLKmwW\">\n<div class=\"z6xlsc-9 fKNkir\">\n<p>Bette Midler<\/p>\n<p>Winifred Sanderson<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"z6xlsc-6 dLKmwW\">\n<div class=\"z6xlsc-9 fKNkir\">\n<p>Sarah Jessica Parker<\/p>\n<p>Sarah Sanderson<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"z6xlsc-6 dLKmwW\">\n<div class=\"z6xlsc-9 fKNkir\">\n<p>Kathy Najimy<\/p>\n<p>Mary Sanderson<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><h2 class=\"tt91rb-7 kJNPPE\">DIRECTOR<\/h2>\n<h2 class=\"tt91rb-1 gCPHQH\">Anne Fletcher<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><h2 class=\"tt91rb-7 kJNPPE\">SYNOPSIS<\/h2>\n<h2 class=\"tt91rb-1 gCPHQH\">Three young women accidentally bring back the Sanderson Sisters to modern day Salem and must figure out how to stop the child-hungry witches from wreaking havoc on the world.<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/section>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"sc-77igqf-0 bOfvBY\">To be fair, that isn&#8217;t a very challenging bar to clear.  Released in the summer of 1993 for some baffling reason, the Halloween-centric, family-friendly <em>Hocus Pocus<\/em> struggled at the box office, but thrived on home video and eventually became a staple for &#8217;90s kids thanks to countless Disney Channel airings.  The filmmakers&#8217; affinity for the first movie is immediately evident, as <em>Hocus Pocus 2<\/em> opens with a flashback to a formal 17th-century moment from the sisters&#8217; teenage years.  Taylor Henderson, Juju Journey Brener, and Nina Kitchen\u2014playing the younger versions of sisters Winifred, Sarah and Mary, respectively\u2014are so spot-on with their interpretations of the characters that you may be convinced that they de-aged the original actors.  Soon, with the help of <em>Ted Lasso<\/em>&#8216;s Hannah Waddingham (in a glorified cameo) as Mother Witch, the young sisters are cursed to a life tied to the Black Flame Candle.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bxm4mm-16 jvTtVq\">\n<div class=\"sc-1atgi65-0 sc-1atgi65-1 bdNdA-D js_commerce-inset-permalink\" data-inset-url=\"https:\/\/www.pntrac.com\/t\/8-12690-163529-249606?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dagnedover.com%2Fpages%2Fkits&amp;sid=IV-|xid:fr1664377845636egj&amp;website=280661\" data-inset-category=\"CommerceInsetMobile\">\n<p>G\/O Media may get a commission<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-1atgi65-3 hMBKyp creative-type-A\">\n<div class=\"sc-1atgi65-6 gLSKws\">\n<div class=\"sc-1atgi65-10 hherpH js_lazy-image\">\n<div><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/i.kinja-img.com\/gawker-media\/image\/upload\/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_center,h_180,q_80,w_320\/917771dc82ddea2dc4d585967bfe9eed.png?resize=400%2C225&#038;ssl=1\" sizes=\"148px\" alt=\"Dagne Dover Travel Kits\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-1atgi65-15 jrXWJC\">\n<p>15% off<\/p>\n<p>Dagne Dover Travel Kits<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-1atgi65-12 dRyRwx\">\n<p class=\"sc-1atgi65-13 iFlqWg\"><strong>Stay organized.<\/strong><br \/><span>Bundle two travel essentials and save 15% off\u2014like the medium Landon for overhead compartments and the Ace fanny pack for easy passport access. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"sc-77igqf-0 bOfvBY\">Snap to 29 years later and modern-day Salem has capitalized on the Sanderson Sisters&#8217; mythos with just the right amount of \u201cmeta:\u201d The Sandersons&#8217; old home is now a magic shop run by the duplicitous Gilbert (Sam Richardson).  During a magic show-slash-exposition-dump at Gilbert&#8217;s shop, the plot truly kicks in when he entices local best friends Becca (Whitney Peak) and Izzy (Belissa Escobedo) to indulge in some All Hallow&#8217;s Eve activities that lead to some Disney- ized trouble.  Becca, struggling to come to terms with her own magical power set (one that rivals the strength of all three sisters&#8217; put together), accidentally summons the Sandersons, and only Becca and her pals (including her estranged former bestie, Cassie, played by Lilia Buckingham) can stop them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-77igqf-0 bOfvBY\">But before they do, <em>Hocus Pocus 2 <\/em>indulges in a delightful \u201cwomen out of time\u201d detour as the sisters\u2014in the movie&#8217;s best and funniest scenes\u2014confront the 21st century by way of a trip to a Walgreens.  The movie never quite recaptures the charm of these moments, as it plods through a series of sitcom-y setups and one too many jukebox musical interludes (don&#8217;t ask how these sisters know the lyrics to classic oldies).  But it makes up for the lull with a few genuinely effective plot twists involving Gilbert, who gets a lively B-storyline that involves the fan-favorite zombie with a removable head (because reasons), Billy Butcherson (the always-good Doug Jones) . <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"flex-video widescreen\"><iframe data-src=\"https:\/\/www.avclub.com\/embed\/inset\/iframe?id=youtube-video-idc0EOmKr30&amp;start=0\" data-chomp-id=\"idc0EOmKr30\" data-recommend-id=\"youtube:\/\/idc0EOmKr30\" id=\"youtube-idc0EOmKr30\" data-recommended=\"false\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"core-inset lazyload\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"webkitAllowFullScreen\" mozallowfullscreen=\"mozallowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><span data-chomp-id=\"idc0EOmKr30\" data-recommend-id=\"youtube:\/\/idc0EOmKr30\" id=\"youtube-idc0EOmKr30\" data-recommended=\"false\" class=\"js_recommend\"\/><\/span><figcaption class=\"sc-1ptbguh-0 hxeMec caption\">Hocus Pocus 2 |  Official Trailer |  Disney+<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-77igqf-0 bOfvBY\">Midler, Parker and Najimy effortlessly slip back into their roles, with Midler getting the most screen time and the funniest one-liners.  Her performance hovers just below \u201cover the top\u201d for most of the run time, however, but Midler and Fletcher seem to wisely reground it just in time for adult Winifred to deliver the movie&#8217;s climactic monologue.  It&#8217;s a very effective and adult scene that summarizes the movie&#8217;s thematic message regarding the importance of sisterhood and family, even among those who can conjure spells and transcend time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-77igqf-0 bOfvBY\">As fun as it is to see these nearly-30-year-old characters get the legacy sequel treatment, the real stars of the movie are its newer characters, especially Becca.  Peak, who instantly radiates movie star charm with her performance, elevates the material while also honoring the occasional tonal tightrope her and her costars have to walk.  And all walk it in a way that conveys they \u201cunderstood the assignment\u201d here: Make a <em>goonies<\/em>-lite, Amblin-adjacent entertainment that recaptures that Disney Channel Original Movie magic without sullying or degrading \u201cthe brand.\u201d  For a very passionate fanbase, their efforts have proven very successful.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>    .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(from left): Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson, Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson, and Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson in Hocus Pocus 2.photo: Disney+ The best thing that can probably be said about Hocus Pocus 2 is that it could have been so much worse. Playing like a big-budget \u201cDisney Channel Original Movie\u201d for the &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/a-review-of-hocus-pocus-2\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">A Review Of Hocus Pocus 2<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[5],"tags":[400],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":82187,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/you-can-stay-in-the-hocus-pocus-house-on-airbnb\/","url_meta":{"origin":81895,"position":0},"title":"You can stay in the &#8216;Hocus Pocus&#8217; house on Airbnb","date":"September 29, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Hocus Pocus\" fans can have a chance to run amok and live out the witchy ways of the Sanderson Sisters in Salem, Massachusetts this Halloween season.Just in time for the trio's highly anticipated return in \"Hocus Pocus 2\", streaming on Disney+ September 30, their historic haunt has been brought back\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Entertainment&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":81789,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/hocus-pocus-2-review-ign\/","url_meta":{"origin":81895,"position":1},"title":"Hocus Pocus 2 Review &#8211; IGN","date":"September 29, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Hocus Pocus 2 debuts on Disney+ on Sept. 30, 2022.Almost 20 years ago, the original Hocus Pocus debuted to lackluster reviews and limited financial returns. Thankfully, you can't keep a bad witch down. After becoming a beloved cult favorite over the years, the Sanderson Sisters have returned with all new\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Entertainment&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":82622,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/hocus-pocus-2-review-bette-midler-kathy-najimy-and-sarah-jessica-parker-conjure-the-same-old-brew-on-disney\/","url_meta":{"origin":81895,"position":2},"title":"&#8216;Hocus Pocus 2&#8217; review: Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker conjure the same old brew on Disney+","date":"September 30, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"CNN \u2014 Disney regularly wrings inordinate mileage out of nostalgia, which can easily obscure when the source wasn't quite as worthy of praise as we like to remember. \u201cHocus Pocus 2\u201d should benefit from that dynamic, delivering a breezy sequel \u2013 29 years later \u2013 that should provide go-down-easy Halloween\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Entertainment&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":71802,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/hocus-pocus-2-gets-first-official-trailer\/","url_meta":{"origin":81895,"position":3},"title":"Hocus Pocus 2 Gets First Official Trailer","date":"September 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Hocus Pocus 2 just got an official trailer... and it's full of witchy fun.Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy are back as the Sanderson sisters for Hocus Pocus 2 - the upcoming sequel to the hit Disney movie.Now, Disney has unveiled the film's official trailer at D23, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Entertainment&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":83099,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/hocus-pocus-2-just-released-on-disney-and-a-hocus-pocus-broadway-musical-could-be-next\/","url_meta":{"origin":81895,"position":4},"title":"&#8216;Hocus Pocus 2&#8217; just released on Disney+ and a &#8216;Hocus Pocus&#8217; Broadway musical could be next","date":"September 30, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The sequel to the popular 1993 Halloween movie \"Hocus Pocus\" released on Friday on Disney+ and according to the original film's producer and creator David Kirschner, a Broadway version of the classic movie is in the works. Kirschner, who created the original film and served as a producer on the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Entertainment&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i.kinja-img.com\/gawker-media\/image\/upload\/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_675,pg_1,q_80,w_1200\/908cc03c95c6117ec38738f6c3666786.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81895"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=81895"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81895\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=81895"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=81895"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=81895"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}