REVIEW TIME: Lock Up Your Children, The Sanderson Sisters Are Back For Wicked Fun In Hocus Pocus 2

Lock up your children, the Sanderson Sisters have returned for another round of evil mischief in Disney+’s Hocus Pocus 2! Directed by Anne Fletcher, this sequel to the 1993 cult classic, finds a new trio of mortals accidentally resurrecting the legendary sisters (Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler, and Kathy Najimy) on Halloween night. Becca, a highschooler interested in all things magic, receives the elusive black flame candle for her sixteenth birthday and consequently brings the sisters back to life. The Sanderson sisters set off on a mission to cast the most powerful spell of spells that will grant them all consuming power. It is then up to our trio of highschoolers (Lilia Buckingham, Belissa Escobedo and Whitney Peak) to do everything in their power to stop the Sanderson sisters and save their town of Salem before it is too late.

I’m fairly neutral when it comes to the Hocus Pocus fandom, I like the original but it’s not a must watch for me each Halloween season as it is for many others. This allowed me to go into this film with no expectations, and I was pleasantly surprised with how enjoyable I found this sequel. Fletcher and screenwriter Jen D’Angelo do a great job of bringing the Sanderson sisters back into the audience’s lives without feeling like they are doing a complete disservice to the original film. The sisters are still wickedly evil and humorous at the same time, especially when it comes to dealing with the modern technology of 2022.

The new trio of highschool heroes, birthday girl Becca (Whitney Peak), Izzy (Belissa Escobedo), and on-again/off-again friend, Cassie (Lilia Buckingham) are relatable, charming, and purely down to earth. This adds a nice breath of fresh air to the film. While this film is not nearly as spooky as the original film, it doesn’t have to be. It’s directed towards a wider audience that will not only capture fans of the original, as well as others who may not be into the spooks of Halloween. This is a Halloween movie for all to watch whether spooky or funny is your preferred flavor.

Midler, Parker, and Najimy return as our favorite witch sisters and the trio does not miss a beat. Their performances are campy in the best way possible and viewers will feel the joy these actors had returning to the screen to reprise these beloved characters. Peak, Escobedo, and Buckingham step in to play the role of our new protagonists and bring additional fun to the table. Escobedo’s Izzy is one that will leave a lasting impression with some of the best comedic lines in the film and she nails every single one of them.

Tony Hale, Sam Richardson, Hannah Waddingham, Froy Gutierrez, and Doug Jones, who reprises his role as Billy Butcherson, round out the cast. Smaller in roles, each actor tackled their role with energy and eagerness and fleshed out the entire cast well.

Hocus Pocus 2 lacks major spooks, unlike its predecessor and it makes up for it in humor and pure family fun. This film will be a definite add to your Halloween movie marathon this season and seasons to come.