Hocus Pocus
3/4
Starring: Omri Katz, Bette Midler, Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, and the voice of Jason Marsden
Rated PG for Some Scary Sequences, and for Language
Affection is a funny thing when it comes to movies. Rewatching old favorites with new eyes can make a critic see a film's faults when they couldn't before ("Heavy Weights" is a good example). But do the fond memories cloud the judgement enough to recommend the film when it's not especially good? More importantly, is it right to deny a child the pleasure you had as a child simply because the film has not aged well for you? What to do...
"Hocus Pocus" isn't a terrible movie, but it's not a very good one either. The dialogue is pretty bland, and there are quite a few clunkers. Some of what passes for acting is an embarrassment to the profession. There's also a serious continuity error that allows the climax to play out the way it does. But maybe my judgement is clouded by my fond memories because I still liked it.
In 1693, three witches named Winifred (Midler), Mary (Najimy) and Sarah (Parker) were convicted of witchcraft and hung. They vowed that when a black flame candle in their home was lit by a virgin on Halloween night, they would return. Three hundred years later (considering the specific conditions in which their resurrection can occur, it's no wonder it's taken them so long), Max (Katz), a new kid in town, lights the candle to impress his would-be girlfriend, Allison (Shaw). Big mistake. Now the witches are back, and Max has to find a way to put them back in the grave before they kill his sister Dani (Birch) to extend their lifespans.
The acting varies wildly. Usually, it's pretty good, although I must mention Bette Midler. Midler is a talented actress and singer, but she goes too far over-the-top as Winifred. By their nature, the three witches are meant to be comical rather than frightening, but director Kenny Ortega pushes them overboard to the point where they are as irritating as they are funny (their experiences in the 20th century are pretty amusing). Omri Katz is an effective lead, although he has his stiff moments. We get behind him fairly early (his best scenes are the ones that set up his relationship with his sister). Thora Birch gives the best performance as Dani, the precocious kid sister. She's cute and funny, but not to the point where she ceases to become real. Vinessa Shaw is also very good as Allison, who indirectly started this thing when Max was trying to impress her. On the other hand, Jason Marsden is flat (although I remembered his voice acting fondly until I rewatched the film).
In some ways, this is like a standard order horror movie, only for kids. Characters do some amazingly stupid things, the plot is pretty thin, the acting isn't Oscar worthy, and it's not very intelligent. But I'd be lying if I said it wasn't entertaining.
This is a movie for kids. There's no beating around the bush. In general, they are less demanding when it comes to plot sophistication, character development, and acting. For a critic, this isn't an especially good movie, and many adults may find sections of this film a trial. But kids will be enchanted and entertained. That's all you can ask for in a movie.
Starring: Omri Katz, Bette Midler, Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, and the voice of Jason Marsden
Rated PG for Some Scary Sequences, and for Language
Affection is a funny thing when it comes to movies. Rewatching old favorites with new eyes can make a critic see a film's faults when they couldn't before ("Heavy Weights" is a good example). But do the fond memories cloud the judgement enough to recommend the film when it's not especially good? More importantly, is it right to deny a child the pleasure you had as a child simply because the film has not aged well for you? What to do...
"Hocus Pocus" isn't a terrible movie, but it's not a very good one either. The dialogue is pretty bland, and there are quite a few clunkers. Some of what passes for acting is an embarrassment to the profession. There's also a serious continuity error that allows the climax to play out the way it does. But maybe my judgement is clouded by my fond memories because I still liked it.
In 1693, three witches named Winifred (Midler), Mary (Najimy) and Sarah (Parker) were convicted of witchcraft and hung. They vowed that when a black flame candle in their home was lit by a virgin on Halloween night, they would return. Three hundred years later (considering the specific conditions in which their resurrection can occur, it's no wonder it's taken them so long), Max (Katz), a new kid in town, lights the candle to impress his would-be girlfriend, Allison (Shaw). Big mistake. Now the witches are back, and Max has to find a way to put them back in the grave before they kill his sister Dani (Birch) to extend their lifespans.
The acting varies wildly. Usually, it's pretty good, although I must mention Bette Midler. Midler is a talented actress and singer, but she goes too far over-the-top as Winifred. By their nature, the three witches are meant to be comical rather than frightening, but director Kenny Ortega pushes them overboard to the point where they are as irritating as they are funny (their experiences in the 20th century are pretty amusing). Omri Katz is an effective lead, although he has his stiff moments. We get behind him fairly early (his best scenes are the ones that set up his relationship with his sister). Thora Birch gives the best performance as Dani, the precocious kid sister. She's cute and funny, but not to the point where she ceases to become real. Vinessa Shaw is also very good as Allison, who indirectly started this thing when Max was trying to impress her. On the other hand, Jason Marsden is flat (although I remembered his voice acting fondly until I rewatched the film).
In some ways, this is like a standard order horror movie, only for kids. Characters do some amazingly stupid things, the plot is pretty thin, the acting isn't Oscar worthy, and it's not very intelligent. But I'd be lying if I said it wasn't entertaining.
This is a movie for kids. There's no beating around the bush. In general, they are less demanding when it comes to plot sophistication, character development, and acting. For a critic, this isn't an especially good movie, and many adults may find sections of this film a trial. But kids will be enchanted and entertained. That's all you can ask for in a movie.
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