Bette Midler, the iconic American actress, singer, and comedian, is known for her versatile performances and ability to inhabit different roles. One of her most memorable transformations came in the 1993 film "Hocus Pocus," where she fully embraced the persona of a witch. In "Hocus Pocus," Midler played the character Winifred Sanderson, the leader of a coven of witches in Salem, Massachusetts. From the moment she appears on screen, Midler captivates audiences with her enthusiasm and commitment to the role. She exudes a dangerous charm, combining villainy with humor in a way that only she could. What makes Midler's portrayal of Winifred Sanderson particularly impressive is her ability to balance the character's wickedness with a sense of vulnerability.
Chief Film Critic
Young uns needn t have seen the earlier movie to make sense of things, although it s just a click away on Disney should any of them be curious enough to watch a classic that predates many of their parents. What strange sorcery is this that Hocus Pocus a so-so comedy turned campy cult favorite starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as absolutely fabulous Salem witch sisters should be getting a sequel nearly three decades after its 1993 release.
What makes Midler's portrayal of Winifred Sanderson particularly impressive is her ability to balance the character's wickedness with a sense of vulnerability. Despite her evil intentions, there are moments when Midler humanizes Winifred, allowing the audience to feel both fear and empathy towards her. Midler's performance as Winifred Sanderson is also known for its musical highlights.
Don’t Question the Magic of Hocus Pocus
Hocus Pocus, as a film, makes little sense. The plot, about a coven of witches who seek to eat children, involves a talking cat, a boy who despises trick-or-treating, and far too many mentions of virgins lighting candles. Released inexplicably in the middle of summer 1993, it was a box-office failure that put off critics.
But Hocus Pocus, as a cultural phenomenon, makes perfect sense. The costumes are easily replicable, the one-liners fantastically quotable. The movie is campy, with a catchy musical number and exaggerated performances. Given its Halloween setting, Hocus Pocus has become as ubiquitous come autumn as pumpkin-spice lattes. The biggest fans watch it every October, when it airs almost daily on TV.
So of course Disney made a sequel. Hocus Pocus 2, which started streaming on Disney+ yesterday, revives the reviled Sanderson sisters—Winifred, Mary, and Sarah (played respectively by Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker)—nearly 30 years after the original. Like the trio of eccentric spell-casting divas at its center, this follow-up is bizarre, flashy, and chaotic. And yet, it’s also satisfying to take in.
I’m not a die-hard Hocus Pocus fan—it’s never been an annual viewing event for me, more of a catch-it-on-in-the-background kind of thing—but I nevertheless found myself charmed by the new entry. The film wears its ridiculousness so proudly, it’s impossible to disdain. It is both a diverting watch and a sly commentary on its predecessor’s strengths. Hocus Pocus 2 understands that Hocus Pocus has a lot that doesn’t work, including an overstuffed plot, hokey dialogue, and chintzy effects. But what the original did have was a uniquely cartoonish raucousness, the kind of unpretentious silliness that can turn a mediocre movie into a cult favorite.
Hocus Pocus 2 grasps, in other words, that the first film isn’t exactly sacred storytelling—and so, as a sequel, it has more than a little fun with the material. It strips the plot to its bare bones, largely ignoring the events that came before in favor of sequences that allow the actors to chew as much scenery as possible. A flashback to the Sandersons’ childhood years in the 1600s, for example, features Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham as a fabulously hammy witch who grants them their sentient spell book, along with a wiggy Tony Hale as an arachnophobic reverend. The teenagers involved this time around play a part in the magic, instead of just gawking at the sisters. And the script pokes fun at its own ludicrousness. “Who are they performing for?” one character asks early on when Winifred, Mary, and Sarah arrive and immediately burst into song.
Speaking of the pesky threesome, none of this works without the witches themselves getting to run amok even more than they did in the original. Midler, Najimy, and Parker reprise their roles with an enthusiasm that radiates off the screen; all of them are absurdly overqualified for their parts but appear to be having the most fun they’ve ever had. Midler in particular seems to delight in every over-the-top antic, including one in which Winifred tries to navigate her way past a set of automatic doors. Instead of walking through them as they open, Midler twirls slowly, looking terrified with every degree spun. That character beat left me in stitches.
It also reminded me of what I enjoyed most about Hocus Pocus as a kid, even when I caught scenes in snippets: the leads’ commitment to making the Sanderson sisters not just odd, but naively so. Take one of my favorite moments from the 1993 film, for instance: After the witches have been tricked into thinking that the water coming from a sprinkler system is “the burning rain of death,” Winifred tests the liquid by holding out her palm and then licking it. Mary, seeing this, immediately licks her own palm too. These moves are objectively gross, yet sweetly endearing at the same time. The sisters are outcasts bewildered by everything going on around them, and that confusion makes them dependent on and devoted to one another. Not much about Hocus Pocus is realistic, except the trio’s anxiety about stepping into a world they don’t know how to navigate. Despite how much they want to eat children, they exude a defiance and obstinacy that can resonate with young audiences also caught in the turmoil of having to grow up.
Hocus Pocus 2 offers the same concoction of heartfelt weirdness. The Sandersons are more determined than ever to succeed now that they’ve been resurrected a second time, but they are even more perplexed by the world they’ve entered. The film follows their lead, playing up their closeness amid the corny jokes and kooky hijinks, rekindling the same spark that turned Hocus Pocus into a hit. So many of Disney’s recent remakes and reboots that mine the company’s back catalog have cared more about exploiting nostalgia through endless references than capturing the allure of the original work. But Hocus Pocus 2 is neither a soulless shot-for-shot re-creation nor an overwrought brand update. It highlights the chemistry that kept viewers spellbound enough to return to the first film time and time again, while dialing up the childlike fun. That’s a kind of magic not every sequel can conjure.
She performs several catchy and memorable songs throughout the film, including the infectiously fun "I Put a Spell on You." These musical numbers further showcase her ability to fully immerse herself in the role and bring the character to life. Overall, Bette Midler's portrayal of Winifred Sanderson in "Hocus Pocus" is an unforgettable depiction of a witch. She seamlessly combines wickedness, humor, vulnerability, and musicality to create a character that has become iconic in popular culture. Through her skillful performance, Midler demonstrates her range as an actress and solidifies her place as one of Hollywood's most versatile talents..
Reviews for "Bette Midler's Witchy Interviews: Insights into the Mind of the Icon"
1. John - 2 stars:
I have always been a fan of Bette Midler's work, but I was truly disappointed with her portrayal of a witch in this film. While her acting skills are unquestionable, the character itself lacked depth and complexity. It felt like a caricature rather than a fully fleshed out character. The movie itself relied too heavily on cheap jokes and exaggerated antics, which became tiresome after a while. Overall, I found this performance to be a misfire in Midler's otherwise impressive career.
2. Sarah - 3 stars:
As much as I admire Bette Midler's talent and charisma, I must admit that her role as a witch in this film left me underwhelmed. While it was obvious that she was having a lot of fun with the character, her performance felt over the top at times. It seemed like she was trying too hard to be funny, and it came across as forced. Additionally, the script didn't provide enough depth for the character, making her seem one-dimensional. I believe Midler is capable of delivering much more nuanced performances, and I hope to see her in more challenging roles in the future.
3. Mark - 2.5 stars:
I'm sorry to say that Bette Midler's attempt to portray a witch didn't quite hit the mark for me. While she undoubtedly has the talent and charisma to bring a character to life, this particular role felt like a caricature that was more annoying than entertaining. The exaggerated gestures and over-the-top antics became grating after a while, and the lack of depth in the character made it difficult to connect with her. I admire Midler's body of work, but this performance left me wanting more.