Hocus Pocus 2

Being a huge fan of the original I wanted to watch this with an open mind but sadly it doesn't have the edge and has lost its magic The original had alot more substance.

The sanderson sisters are still amazing and did everything right and seemed so nostalgic, however the supporting characters were rather dull especially the two main girls Izzy and becca. They fall into the usual Disney trend that isn't right for the movie.

Once again Disney virtue signalling has took the edge off it. Brought life back to a classic but only for a brief moment as the film lacked direction around the sisters, again all characters other than the sisters are dull.

This is typical of Disney ruining classics weve all loved.

Worth a watch but the nostalgia is what got me through.

Hocus Pocus 2 (2022) is a movie my wife and I watched on Disney+ last night. The storyline follows the Sanderson Sisters who are accidentally brought back to life by a group of young ladies who may be up and coming witches themselves. As the Sanderson Sisters make plans to stay on Earth forever the young ladies need to find a way to stop them.

This movie is directed by Anne Fletcher (The Proposal) and stars Bette Midler (Beaches), Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City), Kathy Najimy (Sister Act), Sam Richardson (We're the Millers), Doug Jones (Hellboy) and Whitney Peak (Home Before Dark).

It was impressive to see the cast back together and the songs and soundtrack were excellent. Every song and dance routine was really good and I loved Doug Jones as Billy in this. Midler, Davis and Najimy were as entertaining as you hope. Disney really kicked the special effects up a notch and the depiction of Salem was entertaining and fun. There is a healthy dose of cheesy mixed in here but if you remember the age target for the content you can get over it. The ending was a nice opportunity for continuation, likely as a Disney+ television series.

Overall, this was a step down from the first one but still worth a watch. I would score this a 6.5/10 and recommend seeing it once.

Hocus Pocus 2 uses a plethora of nostalgic references to the 1993 film. It follows basic legacyquel rules - bringing back characters and repeating old narrative concerns for a new audience. However, it's almost exactly the same premise, just set in contemporary times and touches on contemporary discussions around female empowerment.

Some of the jokes are funny, and Bette Midler brings star power, but I can't help but think this sequel tarnishes the original. Hocus Pocus 2 didn't have the fun and thrills of the first film. It is very Disneyfied. More child friendly, and has no real antagonist.

As a fan of the first film who watched it as a child, I hoped this sequel would have a continuation of story, and would trigger nostalgia in a positive way. Unfortunately, it was a disappointment.

Not bad but super lackluster compared to the original!

It lacked sincerity and feeling. In fact, I didn't feel much of anything throughout except frustration. Whereas the first one made me laugh and cry the whole way through, this one was really ho-hum, except for the very end- and I only laughed once!

Like I said, there is a feeling of insincerity to this one. It's basically a parody of itself, whereas the original feels like a genuine classic. And a lot of the stuff in this felt forced and just annoying.

Also, no Max, Dani, or Allison in this one, and I was really looking forward to their return!

Glad I watched, but overall, a letdown and super lame.

UPDATE: Okay, it's only lame in comparison to the original, but not lame overall. I just can't stay mad at a Hocus Pocus movie- anything with these 3 sisters is cool with me, and I hope there are more sequels!

I don't understand how fans of the first film would want to trash this.

The story offers a mix of prequel information, first film nostalgia and a decent revival of our characters. It isn't without flaws but after nearly thirty years, I found the plot interesting and fun to watch. The characters are older but still gave nice performances and the new characters weren't awful.

Most sequels fail to live up to the original film and you know this before sitting down but that doesn't mean they aren't fun to watch. I personally liked seeing the characters brought back and can honestly say that I enjoyed the experience. In my opinion, had the 1993 original not been made, simply cutting the references to it would've made this a fine stand alone film.

To each their own.