Practical Magic

  • Review Date: May 7, 2003
  • PG-13
  • Genre: Drama
  • 1998
Review

Common Sense Media says

Quirky, uneven romcom with some witchy violence.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this romantic fantasy includes some passionate kissing and groping, as well as sexual references. Themes of loss, tension, and violence are throughout (including a scary scene when a boyfriend tries to painfully brand his girlfriend and semi-comic scenes of death). Some parents might be concerned about the theme of witchcraft (benign or otherwise), which include scenes of bringing a man back to life and spiritual possession.

  • Positive messages2
    Some strong positive messages about family and the bond of sisterhood. Some mixed messages about powerful women and sexuality. Other themes include the idea that hate and prejudice comes from fear of the unknown and unfamiliarity.
  • Positive role models3
    Sally and Gillian are independent women who will do anything for family. Gillian, a free spirit, drinks and smokes cigarettes. She also uses magic to get a boy to love her. This ploy gets her into trouble, forcing her to learn a tough lesson in the end. Sally is a loyal and loving sibling who will go to great lengths to help and protect her sister. Both women show great strength and refuse to be taken advantage of. 
  • Violence3
    Themes of loss, tension, and violence throughout. Jimmy hits, chokes, and attempts to "brand" Gillian as his possession. Sally smashes a frying pan over Jimmy's head as self defense, killing him. Semi-comical scenes of peril.
  • Sex3
    A few scenes of passionate kissing and groping. There is also sexy suggestive dancing, sexual innuendos, and references to women being promiscuous adulterers. 
  • Language2
    Gillian is called a "slut" and kids sing "witch, witch you're a bitch." 
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking3
    The girls share a night of drinking margaritas and taking tequila shots. Jimmy is an alcoholic who drinks all day. The more he drinks the more aggressive and violent he becomes. Some of the characters smoke, including Gillian. 
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What's the story?

PRACTICAL MAGIC follows the story of two orphan girls from a family of witches. Raised by aunts who feed them brownies for breakfast and are visited by neighbors only when they are desperate for a spell, the girls grow up looking for a way to separate themselves from their past. Sally (Sandra Bullock) longs to be "normal," and Gillian (Nicole Kidman) longs to abandon herself to a passion that will leave her dizzy. Sally marries a man she adores and has two children before he is killed in an accident. Devastated, she blames the family curse that, according to legend, results in the early death of any man who loves an Owens woman. Gillian ends up with Jimmy Angelof, an abusive man. When Sally comes to rescue her, they accidentally kill Jimmy. Using their aunts' book of spells, they bring him back, only to kill him again when he attacks them. They bury him in the back yard, and think they are safe. But then a policeman comes looking for Jimmy, who is not as departed as they thought.

Is it any good?

 

This is an uneven adaptation of Alice Hoffman's lyrical novel. Bullock and Kidman are ideally cast as the sisters who are very different but very devoted. Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing are delightful as the wry but wise and loving aunts, bedecked in Victorian lace.

It is a pretty movie to watch, with some feel-good scenes and strong themes of sisterhood. But the movie is so uneven in tone and theme -- with a mix of comedy, romance, and fantasy that doesn't quite gel -- that the experience is ultimately more frustrating than fun.

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about how the women in this movie are portrayed. Do they challenge or reinforce any gender stereotypes? How do the men fare?

  • If you've read the book, how does the movie compare? What are some good book-to-movie adaptations?

This review was written by Nell Minow
Parent of 3, 6, 7, and 15 year old
May 15, 2009
AGE
15
 
Great movie, a little concerned about the review.
A great movie, but not for small children, tweens or new teens. I would say this is for kids 15 and over. The only thing I am concerned about is the review above that states, "Some parents will also be concerned about the theme of witchcraft..." Witchcraft is a practice of a legal religion called Wicca, recognized by the US Govt. and US Military alike. I don't think we would ever see a warning here telling folks that parents may be concerned about the theme of Islam, Christianity, Judiasm, Hinduism..ect...ect.
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Kid, 11 years old
February 6, 2012
AGE
10
 
maybe...
cool! good nail-biter. saw it with my parents and they thought I would be scared but I wasn't!!! and the kids didn't say the b-word! the only time i heard a kid say that is when a kid at school called me one (i got mad). An excellent horror! not drama, if u ask me.
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This review was written by Nell Minow
Topics:magic and fantasy
Studio:Warner Bros.
Director:Griffin Dunne
Cast:Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock, Stockard Channing
Genre:Drama
Run time:103 minutes
Theatrical release date:October 16, 1998
DVD release date:February 16, 1999
MPAA rating:PG-13
MPAA explanation:some violence, intense thematic elements and sensuality
This review was written by Nell Minow
 

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
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