I suspect this will not be the popular opinion, but I enjoyed this sequel a tad more than the original. I just rewatched the first one as someone who saw it back in the 90s but had no nostalgia for it. I found it decent in the first half but sluggish in the second. I kind of feel the same way about this one but, on the whole, it held up better and more consistently.

Hocus Pocus 2 brings the original trio of Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy back as the Sanderson Sisters. Returned to life to terrorize, dance, and threaten to eat children in Salem on Halloween one again. The original gang of teens are swapped out for budding trio of teen witches with their own friendship drama.

This sequel is about 87.45% less 90s and has a more modern, less flat, more atmospheric look to it. It also has Roombas which was a joke I appreciated. The comedy is about on the same level of sophistication (ahem) and they really lean into the corny, hokey, campy comedy thing. And the song ‘n dance numbers… which I surprisingly found myself looking forward to.

I think the trio of ladies slip right back in their roles. They look like they are having a blast and good on them for going back to the well after (good god) twenty-nine years. Jesus… time is the crucible in which we burn.

Yeah, the end gets muddled and overwrought but not as bad as the original which is why I’m rating it slightly higher. I also rather liked the friendship between the three budding teen witches… it’d have been nice if they had evinced more wacky personality if Disney plans to make this a Bette Midler-less franchise in the future. Don’t know if that’s the plans but it seems to make sense given that walk at the end.

An army of witch hammering 90s kids may hunt me down, but yeah, I really do think this is a better made and more amusing film. Could have had a stronger final act but I’m willing to forgive it its slip ups.

Score: 75