Practical Magic is the story of two sisters who after their parents' death, move in with their Aunt's. While living there the Aunt's teach the girls magic. After they have grown up, the girls begin their lives away from home. Gillian Owens, played by Nicole Kidman, is full of life and a free spirit. She chooses the fun life and leaves home. Sally Owens, played by Sandra Bullock, wants to find happiness and chooses to stay home where it is comfortable. The Aunt's push a spell in Sally's direction which found her a good man to love, get married to, and have two daughters of her own. The witches in the Owens' family are affected by a terrible curse. If they hear the sound of the cricket, their husbands were doomed for an untimely death. Unfortunate for Sally, this curse is very real, that she witnesses. Sally and her two daughters move back in with the Aunt's. Sally is adamant that her girls never learn magic.
Meanwhile, Gillian finds herself infatuated with a bad boy named Jimmy Angelov. However, the fun ends when he becomes abusive towards her. Sally goes to rescue her sister from the abuser, but Jimmy finds them and keeps the sisters hostage. The girls end up giving him too much of a sleeping drug and he is assumed dead. They race home, worried about the consequences, get the book of spells and find one to bring this man back to life. The spell seems to have worked, except that he is still dangerous and looking partially dead. They knock him out, and dispose of the evidence. It doesn't take long before a police officer meets the sisters and becomes suspicious of them. Now the girls have to find a way to "clean up their own mess."
The performances in this film, I believe, are slightly exaggerated. Every actor in this film is meant for a little bit better. It's a cute film about mystery, love, enchantment, and magic. All great ingredients for the imagination. Nicole Kidman is excellent as free spirited Gillian, victimized by the handsome Goran Visnjic who played Jimmy Angelov. He is the bad boy young girls are curious about, and he plays that well! Sandra Bullock is always the girl next door, sweet, kindhearted, and always willing to do the right thing. Sally is the same way. At the end of the film, their bond as best friends, close sisters, prevails over evil. Who could hate a story that ends that way?
The best part of the film for me is two parts. The first is when the Aunt's are watching the clock for their spell to take effect. Suddenly Sally, working in the garden at the Aunt's house, stops what she is doing, turns to town, and takes off running towards a man at the dock. He too stops what he is doing and starts walking down the street towards Sally, who is now right in front of him. Then she jumps into his arms and kisses him, Faith Hill's song "This Kiss" playing in the background. That is a magical moment.
The second part I really love is when the Aunt's come home to find the mess is still not cleaned up, they ask Sally to round up as many women as possible to create a strong coven to force the spirit of Jimmy to leave. The family was always considered outcast because of their history in witchcraft. This was a chance for Sally to admit the truth about being witches to every woman in town to get them to come save her sister and bring a broom! Everyone came, enthusiastic that they were going to be a part of the magic.
Overall this is a fun film, heart-warming, with something in it for the whole family.
Be sure to catch a young Evan Rachel Wood as Sally's daughter Kylie. And the performances delivered by Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest as the Aunt's, is very fun and magical. It almost makes you want family like them. Brownie's for breakfast, midnight margarita's, singing, dancing under the mood, wearing large hats, neutral colors, with long, luxurious, flowing hair which each girl has. Recommended for girls ages 8+.
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