Practical Magic

Details

Sally and Gillian Owens may be sisters, but they could hardly be more different. Raised by their eccentric witch aunts after the tragic death of their parents, the pair grow up under the shadow of a centuries-old family curse that condemns every man an Owens woman truly loves to an early grave. Whilst sensible Sally longs for nothing more than a normal family life away from magic, the free-spirited Gillian embraces her rebellious nature and refuses to let superstition dictate her future.

As the years pass, Sally settles down and attempts to ignore her magical heritage, whilst Gillian's carefree lifestyle leads her into an increasingly abusive relationship with the dangerous Jimmy Angelov. When events take a deadly turn the sisters are forced to rely upon the very witchcraft they have spent much of their lives trying to avoid. Unfortunately, some spells were never meant to be cast and their desperate attempt to cover up what has happened unleashes consequences far beyond anything they expected.

With a suspicious police detective beginning to investigate Jimmy's disappearance, Sally and Gillian find themselves desperately trying to keep both their family secret and their growing magical problems under control. Blending romance, comedy, fantasy and supernatural thriller elements, Practical Magic becomes as much a story about family, sisterhood and second chances as it is about witches and spells, with the wonderfully eccentric aunts ensuring that events are rarely allowed to become too serious for long.

Picture & Sound

Warner's transfer is generally very pleasing, producing a clean and colourful image that suits the film's whimsical atmosphere. The rich autumnal colours, candlelit interiors and picturesque New England locations are reproduced well, whilst the darker supernatural scenes retain respectable shadow detail without becoming overly murky. There are a handful of softer shots throughout, but given the film's age the transfer still holds up remarkably well and remains free from any significant print damage or compression artefacts.

The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is similarly enjoyable. This is hardly a film designed to give your surround speakers a workout, but the musical score and ambient effects make good use of the rear channels when required. Dialogue remains consistently clear and well balanced throughout, although at times the excellent score threatens to become a little too dominant. Thankfully that's only a minor criticism, as the soundtrack complements the romantic and supernatural themes very nicely.

Overall

Practical Magic is one of those films that never quite found the audience it deserved on its original cinema release, yet has steadily grown into something of a cult favourite over the years. That's hardly surprising as it offers something rather unusual: a romantic fantasy that mixes comedy, family drama and a touch of gothic horror without ever allowing one element to overwhelm the others. It doesn't always succeed in balancing those genres perfectly, but there's an undeniable charm running throughout.

The real strength of the film lies in its cast. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman share an effortless chemistry as sisters whose personalities constantly clash but whose loyalty to one another never wavers. They're well supported by Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest, whose delightfully eccentric aunts steal more than a few scenes with their offbeat humour and infectious enthusiasm for all things magical.

There are occasions where the screenplay struggles to juggle its romance, comedy and supernatural thriller elements, making the pacing feel a little uneven during the middle act. Nevertheless, its warmth, memorable characters and quirky sense of humour more than compensate for those shortcomings. Coupled with a respectable transfer and a handful of worthwhile extras, this remains a charming DVD release that has aged rather better than many people expected.

Special features

• Making Magic
• Casting the Spell
• Television Spot