The Book of Magic: A Novel

aside from Alice Hoffman, who wrote the original book that these movies are based off of.

And I believe the original book is called The Book of Magic.

So that was written by Alice Hoffman.

And then this movie was written by three people who I can't remember all three, but one stood out to me, this bitch named Kelly Marcell.

Okay, I just wanna bring to your attention before we start talking shit about the plot, because while I was watching this film and I was like, "Why is this happening? Why is this happening?" I was like, "Wait, is Practical Magic 2 based on Alice Hoffman's books?" Alice Hoffman wrote the original Practical Magic and has subsequently wrote multiple sequels and prequels to the story of the Owens sisters, and the answer is yes.

The plot of this movie is heavily based on the 2021 sequel book, The Book of Magic.

Okay.

Having said that, this movie does honor the source material in its plot, but I guess my big question is, okay, there's source material, but shouldn't you also honor the things that people love about the original Practical Magic film? And that, to me, are these pairs of sisters living in that Victorian mansion on the Massachusetts coast.

As beguiling as it is to see the return of these actresses, their alchemy is impeded by a hyperactive screenplay that's too busy bouncing them through plot beats and muddled stakes instead of giving them and the new cast better stories.

Practical Magic 2 adapts from author Alice Hoffman's novel series about the Owens clan of witches, this time primarily drawing from 2021's The Book of Magic.

It's about 20-ish years since the end of the first film, which had the Owens witches outing themselves on Halloween to their little town, publicly embracing their Wiccan legacy.

Today, Bullock's Sally is the town librarian and dedicated single mother to grown daughters Kylie, played by Joey King, and neurosurgeon-in-training Antonia, played by Maisie Williams.

Yes, it is many, many different things.

The new film adds Lee Pace, Joey King, and Maisie Williams to the cast, and is based on Alice Hoffman's 2021 novel, The Book of Magic, the fourth and final chapter in her Practical Magic series.

If you're new here, Rudy and I are culture reporters, and on this podcast we discuss the page to screen adaptations that everyone's talking about.

I read the book, we both watch the TV show or movie, and then we dissect the differences and what we thought of the new adaptation.

And yes, that means there will be spoilers throughout for both Practical Magic 2 and The Book of Magic.

And I guess Practical Magic 1 as well, and maybe some of the prequel books too.

[laughs]

... a little bit of spice, but they are not scary books.

It's interesting, though, that we're getting this particular movie when we are because th- it's based off books, right? So-

The Book of Magic.

Is that what the books are called? Something like that.

That is the last book.

That she wrote more.

Yeah.

So the screenplay for the movie is written by Akiva Goldsman, Georgia Pritchett, and Kelly Marcel, based off the 2021 novel, The Book of Magic, which is the fourth book in the Practical Magic series.

Huh.

[swoosh] Okay, and just to wrap up, good news for my witchy enthusiasts out there, because Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock have lightly hinted at the fact they might be down for a third installment.

They've said there is still plenty in Alice Hoffman's book, The Book of Magic, yet to be explored and that deserve their own moment.

Nicole Kidman pointing to the new generation of witches played by Joey King and Maisy Williams, saying that Maisie has an incredible storyline in the book.

Now, if you've seen it, you know that her character didn't have a lot of screen time in Practical Magic 2.