Box Office - Cinema

Practical Magic

Starring Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Aidan Quinn, Stockard Channing, Dianne Wiest, Goran Visnjic; directed by Griffin Dunne

'There's a little witch in every woman,' this movie claims, and indeed there seems to be a magical connection between sisters Sally (Bullock) and Gillian (Kidman) Owens. After the deaths of their parents, they are raised by their eccentric Aunts Jet (Wiest) and Frances (Channing), whom the townsfolk believe are witches.

Although young Sally shows innate talent in casting spells, she decides to shun her ability and tries to live a normal life within the very odd household. Gillian, on the other hand, runs away from home and lives wild and free, breaking hearts everywhere as she weaves her womanly spell. Back home, Sally eventually finds romance and the normal life she craves, but the curse of the Owens women - the men they love are doomed to an untimely death - brings everything to an end.

When Gillian's romance with an exotic drifter named Jimmy (Visnjic) takes a bad turn, Sally comes to her sister's rescue. But the encounter with Jimmy ends - or does it? - with him lying on the kitchen table and Sally and Gillian frantically muttering spells to bring him back to life. When the incantations don't bring on the desired results, Jimmy ends up in a shallow grave under a rose bush. Soon Officer Hallett (Quinn) turns up at the Owens' doorstep in search of Jimmy, and by some strange twist of Fate, he possesses the exact same qualities a young Sally conjured up in an impossible spell a long time ago...

To call this whimsical and quirky semi-horror-romantic-comedy a chick flick wouldn't be off the mark, but guys would surely enjoy seeing two such gorgeous leading ladies sharing the screen. The chemistry between Bullock and Kidman sparks, and their relationship is very appealing. Also a treat to watch are Wiest and Channing as the charmingly oddball aunts. Director Dunne, whose last film was Addicted To Love, seems adept at slightly twisted romances, and gives Practical Magic a light touch. - ANNE CHONG

Copyright TV Review
Source: Pg. 40, TV Review, December 1998

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