Hocus Pocus (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
It's 1693 in Salem, Massachusetts & a trio of woodland witches, The Sanderson sisters (Winifred, played by Bette Midler; Sarah, played by Sarah Jessica Parker; & Mary, played by Kathy Najimy) are preparing a spell that will ensure them immortality & eternal youth in 'Hocus Pocus', directed with zeal by Kenny Ortega. The spell: when a virgin lights the 'Black Flame Candle' on Halloween night, they shall return from the dead. The reason they come up with this spell is because they know they're about to be sentenced to death by hanging for killing a young girl, & using witchcraft to turn her older brother, Thackery Binx (Sean Murray) into a black cat after he tried to save her. And sure enough, the vengeful people of Salem execute the wicked Sanderson sisters for consorting with the devil.
300 yrs. later, a skeptic 15 yr. old named Max (Omri Katz) breaks into the ruins of the old witch house, wondering if the spirit of the witches will materialize. Going against the wishes of his bratty little 8 yr. old sister, Dani (Thora Birch), and classmate, Allison (Vinessa Shaw), Max lights the Black Flame Candle. Baaaaaaaad idea. Suddenly, the 3 witches have a 2nd lease on life and, this time ... they don't intend on being caught again. To stay immortal, they must continue to snatch up children & suck the souls out of them. Now it's up to Max, his sister Dani, Allison (whom he has a huge crush on), & a talking black cat (the boy from 300 yrs. ago), to reverse the curse, & stop the witches before they wreak havoc throughout an unsuspecting Salem. Mayhem ensues.
Part of the big appeal of 'Hocus Pocus' is experiencing autumnal Salem, as well as watching the 3 witches adapt to the year 1993. Having no broomsticks, they grab vacuums & set-off into the night. They freak out at the sight of a cigarette lighter. The think they'll melt when a sprinkler system gets them wet. They're not used to solid roads, cars, or headlights. They don't know why children are frolicking around town in costumes on All Hallow's Eve -- I laughed a lot at these antics. The 3 actresses portraying the sisters are a comedic force of nature. Bette Midler's physical comedy is bang-on, here. I find her off-color witch comments, line deliveries & facial expressions to be truly hysterical. Sarah J. Parker plays the sexy, if dim-witted, goofy Sarah; her highlight is when she sings a hypnotic song to conjure children to their doom. And Kathy Najimy plays Mary with a high-strung, screwball joy; a joy that is always subdued when sister Winifred gets angry with her.
Even though 'HP' is little more than a children's Halloween flick ... I enjoy the heck out of it. The humor tickles me pink. The child actors do a swell job. I love the bond that grows btwn. Max & his sister (which is paralleled by Thackery Binx' sacrifice for his sister back in 1693). Omri Katz makes for a likeable family film teen hero. Thora Birch plays the irritating sister role perfectly -- I grew to love her by the end. And I enjoy cameos from Gary & Penny Marshall as a married couple who don't give a rat's a** who the Sandersons really are. The direction is tongue-in-cheek. The whimsical music, colorful costumes, make-up work, special effects, & spooky sets are STELLAR. What can I say? I've always been mesmerized by witches and, long after its 1993 release, I'm still enchanted by this immensely fun Halloween treat.
300 yrs. later, a skeptic 15 yr. old named Max (Omri Katz) breaks into the ruins of the old witch house, wondering if the spirit of the witches will materialize. Going against the wishes of his bratty little 8 yr. old sister, Dani (Thora Birch), and classmate, Allison (Vinessa Shaw), Max lights the Black Flame Candle. Baaaaaaaad idea. Suddenly, the 3 witches have a 2nd lease on life and, this time ... they don't intend on being caught again. To stay immortal, they must continue to snatch up children & suck the souls out of them. Now it's up to Max, his sister Dani, Allison (whom he has a huge crush on), & a talking black cat (the boy from 300 yrs. ago), to reverse the curse, & stop the witches before they wreak havoc throughout an unsuspecting Salem. Mayhem ensues.
Part of the big appeal of 'Hocus Pocus' is experiencing autumnal Salem, as well as watching the 3 witches adapt to the year 1993. Having no broomsticks, they grab vacuums & set-off into the night. They freak out at the sight of a cigarette lighter. The think they'll melt when a sprinkler system gets them wet. They're not used to solid roads, cars, or headlights. They don't know why children are frolicking around town in costumes on All Hallow's Eve -- I laughed a lot at these antics. The 3 actresses portraying the sisters are a comedic force of nature. Bette Midler's physical comedy is bang-on, here. I find her off-color witch comments, line deliveries & facial expressions to be truly hysterical. Sarah J. Parker plays the sexy, if dim-witted, goofy Sarah; her highlight is when she sings a hypnotic song to conjure children to their doom. And Kathy Najimy plays Mary with a high-strung, screwball joy; a joy that is always subdued when sister Winifred gets angry with her.
Even though 'HP' is little more than a children's Halloween flick ... I enjoy the heck out of it. The humor tickles me pink. The child actors do a swell job. I love the bond that grows btwn. Max & his sister (which is paralleled by Thackery Binx' sacrifice for his sister back in 1693). Omri Katz makes for a likeable family film teen hero. Thora Birch plays the irritating sister role perfectly -- I grew to love her by the end. And I enjoy cameos from Gary & Penny Marshall as a married couple who don't give a rat's a** who the Sandersons really are. The direction is tongue-in-cheek. The whimsical music, colorful costumes, make-up work, special effects, & spooky sets are STELLAR. What can I say? I've always been mesmerized by witches and, long after its 1993 release, I'm still enchanted by this immensely fun Halloween treat.