THE disney regularly extracts excessive mileage out of nostalgia, which can easily overshadow when the font isn’t as praiseworthy as we like to remember.
“Abracadabra 2” should benefit from that dynamic, delivering a lighthearted sequel – 29 years later – that should provide a wide audience for families on the less demanding limits of the world. Disney+ .
The costumes and shoes still fit amicably for Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy like the Sanderson sisters who even sing a jukebox-style version of a certain song by Elton John, as an additional piece of content to help publicize the film.
Still, what makes “Abracadabra” cool is the mix of the old and the new, replicating the basic model of the original while introducing a new and more diverse contingent of teenagers to fight the century-old witches.
Add some alumni of “Veep” (Sam Richardson, Tony Hale ) and three decades of technological advancements to dazzle and confound the central trio (automatic doors and Alexa really are like sorcery to undiscerning eyes), and you have a model of humor that fits the original mold perfectly, while the expands slightly.
It takes a while for the film’s charms to kick in, as the film opens with a 12-minute Sandersons origin story that is perhaps made most memorable by the cameo by Hannah Waddingham from “Ted Lasso.”
Director Anne Fletcher (“The Proposal”) and writer Jen D’Angelo then switch to introducing a pair of teenage misfits (ex “Gossip Girl’s” Whitney Peak and Belissa Escobedo) who enjoy hanging out at the local magic shop, where the owner (Richardson) helps plant the seeds for the Sandersons’ latest awakening.
As usual, the kids end up having to do the heavy lifting to counter the threat, with the Sandersons again displaying a mixture of malevolence and ineptitude, starting with their magic’s vulnerability to several grains of salt.
Fortunately, the new group proves to be quite sympathetic, even if the Disney Channel storyline running through it – involving a distant friend (Lilia Buckingham) who abandoned her old friends for the popular kids – isn’t exactly new.
On the other hand, this type of film hardly needs to reinvent the cauldron, representing more of a cut-and-paste job. To its credit, the film still manages to be clever in weaving in something from the old film, like the trio’s synchronized walk, without going overboard.
While the not-too-scary shenanigans are acceptable for kids, these scenes are likely to be awesome for parents who’ve seen the movie in the past, helping to turn it into a Halloween favorite.
In practical terms, just seeing the directors reprise their roles should provide enough marketing to make it a winner on Disney streaming, without giving up a lot of money for not releasing the movie in theaters.
By that measure, “Abracadabra 2” finds what amounts to the streaming sweet spot, feeling big enough but not too big.
There’s more alchemy than science in this formula, but as Disney’s long history of remakes and revivals continues, it takes a certain amount of talent to make the work pay off.
“Abracadabra 2” debuts September 30 on Disney+.
Source: CNN Brasil
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
