We’re in an era where everything that once was out and popular is back on the table. If it’s IP that had an audience, has a cult following, or might yield a bit more the Box Office, it’s back in theaters. That, as one might expect, has yielded some wildly uneven results.

That’s certainly the case with Practical Magic 2, which brings back some classic characters for a new adventure nearly 30 years later. This one still has the Owens sisters played by Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, but provides a new story meant to build on the original lore in the novel from Alice Hoffman.

This one picks up and fills in the gaps between films. Turns out that the Owens family curse wasn’t broken after the events of the first film. That means Sally’s (Bullock) second husband also perished, causing her to swear off love and magic, casting a spell to prevent her daughters from knowing who they truly are. As is so often the case in these stories, that plan doesn’t work out.

Flash-forward a few decades and Antonia (Maisie Williams) and Kylie (Joey King) are grown women who are living their lives without magic. And Sally has walled off her magic for so long that she’s no longer in touch with the deep power within. But when Kylie falls in love, and it takes the predictable tragic turn, the truth comes out.

Soon, Kylie finds a book that might hold the key to ending the curse. But it’s a dark magic—and a dark threat—she’s unprepared to face. That leaves Sally and Gillian (Kidman) to chase after her and battle the dark threat that’s trying to sap the Owens women of their unique powers.

This film comes from the same screenwriting team and has much of the core cast intact. Of course, Diane Wiest and Stockard Channing have a limited role here so the focus can be on Sally, Gillian, and the next generation. That works well enough.

This sequel is directed by Susanne Bier. It’s a focus much more on women and sisterhood. It’s specifically about the bond of sisters, as we get three generations of sisters who are uniquely bonded together in this magical legacy. That’s a good swing, and it makes for a decent date night option. There are times—particularly in the final half hour of the film—where it finds the magic that made the original film a cult classic.

But this new version is 130 minutes. That’s a long haul for a movie of this type—about 25 minutes longer than the original. It’s too long, and at times you feel that length. I liked the addition of Lee Pace, and I enjoy seeing Bullock and Kidman play off each other. There is still some fun in this premise and even though the plot is predictable it’s a satisfying enough journey. But it drags in sections and takes a lot of time to get where it’s going.

I also felt like the Antonia character is given short shrift here. She isn’t fully developed and is cut out of much of the magic here. It would have been interesting to see the bond between Antonia and Kylie explored a bit more here, too. It’s possible that’s the plan if they continue to expand the franchise.

That, too, is a question. I don’t think the film needed a sequel. While this sequel was fine, I doubt it leaves fans clamoring for more. Practical Magic 2 is OK, and likely will be a good enough experience for fans, but it’s unlikely to become an enduring classic like the original. It’s also the kind of movie you can wait to watch when it comes to streaming.

Practical Magic 2 is now playing nationwide.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.