Hocus Pocus (1993)

hocus-pocus-1993-poster

Release date: July 16, 1993
Director: Kenny Ortega
Story by: David Kirschner, Mick Garris
Screenplay by: Mick Garris, Neil Cuthbert
Cast: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Omri Katz, Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw, Jason Marsden

Disney’s summer blockluster is turning 20 years this year! Proving that movie critics generally know crap about movies. Why? They gave the movie a thumb down calling on Bette Midler’s “depressing as hell” performance through this “cheesy supernatural comedy.” 20 years later, Hocus Pocus is as funny as hell — trust’em, they’ve been there — and Midler shines through the bucktoothed ginger-head witch, Winifred.

As some of us were discussing not long ago, sometimes people have to live with the reviews we spew. Especially if we’re guiding ourselves on first impressions. And on first impressions, YES, Hocus Pocus IS indeed a cheesy supernatural comedy — what’s wrong with that? It’s the story of a teenage boy named Max (a post-Eerie Indiana Omri Katz) who revives the Sanderson sisters on the night of Halloween, then must save his little sister, Dani (a pre-American Beauty Thora Birch), and stop the witches from staying in Salem permanently.

Though by standards of the 80s, Hocus Pocus seemed like tons of harmless horror-comedy, including a “good zombie” before zombies could be known to fall in love. By today’s standards, the film has become a little scary. My niece, who’s about to turn seven in a few months, made me turn the film off right before Max, Dani, and love interest Allison (Shaw) were about to enter the Sanderson’s home/museum — so basically, she just managed to watch the introduction. If we thought that was scary-silly back then, our children have pussied out and can’t handle their silly horror any longer.

As a child, one would get easily thrilled with the idea of having to escape the witches and Binx the talking cat (voiced by Marsden, who also guest-starred on Katz’s Eerie Indiana). However, as one grows older, your appreciation for Midler, Najimy and Parker grows tenfold. Though some of the dialogue in English seems off at times — Mary’s (Najimy) mentioning of a “Shish Kebaby” and I still wonder how Mary and Sarah (Parker) knew chorus lines should stand behind and sing towards the microphones — the Spanish Latino dub (which is included in the Blu-ray) seems to fix some of the details and makes it extra campy, making the experience watching Hocus Pocus that extra special. Or maybe it’s just nostalgia.

Special effects weren’t a match to that year’s VFX juggernaut, Jurassic Park (because, come on! It’s Jurassic Park!), but they fit the tone of the film. Visually speaking, I especially love that general moonlit frame of the Sanderson sisters flying, as Winifred asks Sarah to lure the children with her voice, which also reminds me that I’m tagging this a “musical” because you have Bette Midler, and you HAD TO have her singing for no reason. Hocus Pocus makes little sense from that point on, with all the bursting the top of your house off exit, and Winifred not taking the rare sensible advice from Sarah of taking some other child’s life instead of Dani’s. But, hey! If it had made sense, it wouldn’t be silly fun.

Besides your enjoyment of the sisters interactions — Sarah Jessica Parker munching on a spider, anyone? — there’s also bonus points for Dani… who, as a general rule, avoids damsel-in-distress status with her own snarky comments (that hurt Winifred, and irks her big brother Max with his bullies) — that’s Thora Birch for ya~ Then there’s Allison, who doesn’t get much of a build-up, but completely avoids having to be rescued (!!!), instead taking the role of a semi-know-it-all of Sanderson information, and she hits Najimy with a pan [1][2] — all while wearing sensible clothing! For Disney, that’s like trailblazing!

Overall, even though I LOVE Hocus Pocus, I know its own limitations. But there’s no rules saying you can’t love less than 4-star movies. Whereas there are quality films I’ve only seen once, I can say I’ve seen this one twice in a night and enjoyed every minute of it. And I will continue watching it. No shame. I’m taking a new stab with my niece and nephew this upcoming Halloween~

Plus, this is like the best thing Ortega has done, High School Musical notwithstanding

Rating: ★★★½☆ 

amy

YAM Magazine editor, photographer, blogger, translator and part-time web designer. Film junkie, music junkie… and lately series (a.k.a. TV) junkie.

5 Responses

  1. Camiele says:

    I don’t even care. I’d STILL give Hocus Pocus four stars. It’s brilliant fun, and using Bette Midler in ANYTHING automatically raises the rating by half a star… HaHa.

    Plus, and this is just my opinion, and I’m sure in the VAST minority, but this is the best thing SJP has done. It’s this sort of camp and slapstick that we were used to growing up, the kind that’s just adult enough to make bigger kids love it and, of course, kiddie enough for all of us to absolutely adore it.

    You’re right about many things here, but most defniitely about general pussification of the generation after us. It’s sad, really, how somthing as harmless and hilarious as Hocus Pocus could be deemed “too adult” for kids our age. We were, what, 7 and 8 when we saw this? Yeah… the 90s were DEFINITELY where it was at… HaHa.

    • amy says:

      @Camiele, that’s true about SJP. She’s usually relegated to supporting characters on film that tend to be insufferable, like on Ed Wood, Mars Attack or The Family Stone- she’s even insufferable as Carrie. However, in here, she’s fun! Guys also found her hot, lol. I love that she’s so excitedly dumb!

      As a kid, I can’t remember if I laughed as hard as I do now, but I do remember loving to watch the Cinema Magic episode they did on the movie. The good old times of matte painting.

      I still think Hocus Pocus is considered for children, the Disney channel always shows it during the season, unlike things like The Addams Family.

      • Camiele says:

        @amy, You’re right on all counts. And I especially love the description of SJP in this — “excitedly dumb!” That’s just perfect… HaHa. I mean, I had a little thing for Sarah, I’m not gonna lie. I kinda wanted to be Winnie cuz, I mean, she’s a bad ass. I really was like… “Sarah… o.o” Imagine my shock when I first saw Sara Sanderson in Sex in the City. I was like… “Wait… whaaaaaat?!” HaHA. It could’ve partially been because of that I didn’t give SITC a fair shake, but I sat through two episodes (my bestie was in love with the show) and was like… this show sucks! HaHA. Anyway…

        Disney used to be a different place altogether. I feel like I remember them showing Addams Family at one point, but I could be wrong. But they certainly weren’t afraid to show just all around good films no matter what they were or who produced them.
        Not so much anymore… ever… HaHA.

  2. ghost says:

    The question on everyone’s mind is Sara or Allison?

    • amy says:

      @ghost, well… Sara eats children and devours men. I think men wouldn’t mind that, but I like insufferable know-it-alls, so I would pick Allison.

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