Practical Magic 4K UHD Review
“Practical Magic” is a tonal nightmare.
With the sequel “Practical Magical 2” heading to the big screen in a few short weeks, WB is giving the first “Practical Magic” the 4K treatment. The 1998 film based on the Alice Hoffman novel revolves around sisters Sally and Gillian Owens who are anything but normal. Not only do they come from a long line of witches, but the family suffers from a curse in which the male love interests are essentially doomed. After Sally and Gillian’s parents pass away when they are children, they are sent to live with their aunts Jet and Frances in a small New England town. The entire family is seen as untrustworthy outcasts given their lineage. When Sally and Gillian become adults, Sally gets married and has two children while Gillian is a bit of a free spirited wild woman. Tragedy strikes when Sally’s husband dies leaving her and her two kids to move back in with her aunts. Sally vows to never use magic again and doesn’t want her children to either. Gillian, meanwhile, gets into trouble when she becomes involved with an abusive scumbag (Jimmy). Sally goes to help her sister but winds up killing Jimmy accidentally. They attempt to bring him back with magic, but let’s just say it doesn’t go well. Now, the sisters have to deal with the consequences while a special investigator (Gary) snoops around. To make matters more complicated, Sally begins to fall with Gary.
Director Griffin Dunne’s “Practical Magic” is a movie with an identity crisis. The Akiva Goldsman, Robin Swicord, and Adam Brooks scripted project doesn’t seem to know what it wants to be. Is it a witch tale? Is it a fantasy family story? Is it a drama about sisterhood? Is it a procedural? Is it a romance? Is it a dark story about abuse? Is it a chick flick? Is it a story about outcasts and community? It tries to be all of these things and none of it mixes well together. The tone is so bizarre, the pacing is glacial, the soundtrack is filled with pop songs, and the project barely holds together as it lumbers towards the most anti-climactic and forced ending one could possibly dream of. Despite all of this, the film has gone on to become a cult favorite to the point where a sequel is now coming out 28 years later. Chalk it up to nostalgia or star power.
Speaking of the cast, not even they can salvage this one. Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Dianne Wiest, Stockard Channing, Aidan Quinn and Evan Rachel Wood is quite a line-up for any movie, but for the most part, they are all wasted in their roles. Only Kidman comes out unscathed as the wild witch Gillian. She at least seems to be having the most fun anyway.
Video/Audio:
Presentation: 2.39:1 2160p. How does it look? This new restoration lacks the wow factor, but is still a subtle improvement that manages to maintain the original look of the print.
Audio Track: Dolby Atmos. How does it sound? This is a little soft for an Atmos track, but is still satisfactory.
Extras include a Digital copy, commentary by Sandra Bullock, director Griffin Dunne, producer Denise Di Novi and composer Alan Silvestri, vintage featurette about the cast titled “Casting The Spell” and another archival extra titled “Making Magic” (a standard featurette).
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