A long time ago, I think it was on Formspring, I wrote a thing on why Hocus Pocus is the best Halloween movie. It’s because it’s actually about Halloween. The all-powerful from an age of pagan belief are rendered powerless in an age of plastic. Nobody gets serial killed on Halloween, but they do hop graveyard fences. I still believe this. Great movie.

Hocus Pocus 2 doesn’t have a central focus. For most of the runtime, it’s a warning on how the things you’re a fan of won’t grow with you, and may hurt you. Everyone in town loves the witches trying to kill them, and the Sandersons never miss a chance to repeat themselves. But it starts with a misunderstood girl boss cold open, and ends with a feel good lesson on supportive relationships. No throughline runs the whole way through.

It’s also not nearly as funny. Looking more expensive is not a substitute.