Day 31: Chekov’s Roomba
October 31, 2022
Dear Disney,
For the last day of 31 Days of Disney Halloween Darling and I watched the 2023 sequel Hocus Pocus 2. Darling and I had two very different thoughts on this movie. We are not going to spoil it, so if you want a review without fear of ruining the movie, feel free to read on.
First off, Darling enjoyed this movie. Darling felt that this sequel gave more to the character arcs than the first movie. Hocus Pocus 2 allowed the writers to explore more nuanced characters than the first movie. The first movie was more about stopping and destroying the Sanderson Sisters. This movie was more about understanding the Sanderson Sisters motives. We spoke yesterday about how the characters in the first movie felt real because of how they were flawed. The sequel not only makes them feel real, but gives them depth that the first movie did not, or could not do. Darling also enjoys the small amount of campiness and light-heartedness that the movie had. Overall, she thought that Disney did a great job of making a sequel 29 years after the original. The actors were amazing. Bette Midler was wonderful, and Darling had a moment of pride for Sarah later in the movie regarding something that Sarah said finally confronting Winnie.
I had a hard time getting into the movie. My initial thoughts were that the fan service was too much. I did not understand where the plot was going. Everything felt shoe-horned into its place. I talked with Darling about this and she shared her views. I realized that what I was feeling as shoe-horned and fan service was really a misunderstanding of the plot and the use of fun allusions to the previous work. Thinking back on it, the allusions were never over-the-top or without cause. It was not fan service, it was good writing.
Finally, I think both of us feelm like this was a solid movie. It end capped the series, while allowing Disney+ to make a show or another series if they wanted to. If they do, Darling and I will be there to watch it.
For this Halloween season, we are saying good-bye.
Sincerely,
Jim Dear and Darling
