This film suffers from a lazy script due to several rehashed lines or sequences from the original film. I get that the writers were aiming for the nostalgia of the original film, but it was completely overdone. Very minimal effort was put into the song selection as well. The songs were borrowed and slightly re-written versions of old material from Elton John and Blondie. Humor in this film is almost non-existent as well. Granted yes, "I Put a Spell on You" was a cover as well, but that cover had relevance given the witches backgrounds. The songs in this film, however, make the witches look like pop stars.
Hocus Pocus 2 also has a very pro-feminist tone which came off as pandering among other subjects. This did not surprise me at all given Disney's issues with quality of content these days. The lead characters were uninspiring female teenagers that had no substance whatsoever. One of them (Becca) suddenly realizes she has powers during the film as well. The male side characters, on the other hand, came off as weak and apologetic. The Mayor was cringeworthy, their high school jersey wearing male friend came off as an apologetic wimp, Gilbert seemed like filler, and Billy Butcherson came back with an Irish or British accent when he seemed to have a more American accent in the original film. This leads me to believe that some of the writers or producers either did not watch the original film or didn't care what direction they were taking this sequel.
The Sanderson sisters immediately break into song once they are brought back by these girls in the woods courtesy of what appeared to be a store bought black flame candle, an idea which was poorly executed and quite frankly not believable. Furthermore, the lead cast members of the original film who played Max, Allison and Dani, are never mentioned in this film and drag queens are featured in a short scene that was reminiscent of the Halloween party scene where the Sanderson sisters perform "I Put a Spell on You."
This film also suffered from a weak ending as well. The writers try to get the audience to feel sorry for Winnie once her sisters move on to the next world. Why should we feel sorry for a villian? Winnie then gives "Book" to the girls, particularly Becca and then disappears herself. The girls leave the cemetery, walk down the street talking and the film ends.
Given Disney's recent track record of failure thanks to commercial flops like "Lightyear" etc. I think they need to seriously re-evaluate their audience and content and should just stop making films for a while because there is nothing good to celebrate or look back on with Hocus Pocus 2. If they try and make a third one, I'll probably just skip it because this film left a bad taste in my mouth after watching it and came off as more of a farce of the original rather than a worthy sequel. I'll stick with the much better original "Hocus Pocus" going forward and I would recommend anyone else to do the same.
Hocus Pocus 2 also has a very pro-feminist tone which came off as pandering among other subjects. This did not surprise me at all given Disney's issues with quality of content these days. The lead characters were uninspiring female teenagers that had no substance whatsoever. One of them (Becca) suddenly realizes she has powers during the film as well. The male side characters, on the other hand, came off as weak and apologetic. The Mayor was cringeworthy, their high school jersey wearing male friend came off as an apologetic wimp, Gilbert seemed like filler, and Billy Butcherson came back with an Irish or British accent when he seemed to have a more American accent in the original film. This leads me to believe that some of the writers or producers either did not watch the original film or didn't care what direction they were taking this sequel.
The Sanderson sisters immediately break into song once they are brought back by these girls in the woods courtesy of what appeared to be a store bought black flame candle, an idea which was poorly executed and quite frankly not believable. Furthermore, the lead cast members of the original film who played Max, Allison and Dani, are never mentioned in this film and drag queens are featured in a short scene that was reminiscent of the Halloween party scene where the Sanderson sisters perform "I Put a Spell on You."
This film also suffered from a weak ending as well. The writers try to get the audience to feel sorry for Winnie once her sisters move on to the next world. Why should we feel sorry for a villian? Winnie then gives "Book" to the girls, particularly Becca and then disappears herself. The girls leave the cemetery, walk down the street talking and the film ends.
Given Disney's recent track record of failure thanks to commercial flops like "Lightyear" etc. I think they need to seriously re-evaluate their audience and content and should just stop making films for a while because there is nothing good to celebrate or look back on with Hocus Pocus 2. If they try and make a third one, I'll probably just skip it because this film left a bad taste in my mouth after watching it and came off as more of a farce of the original rather than a worthy sequel. I'll stick with the much better original "Hocus Pocus" going forward and I would recommend anyone else to do the same.