FILMS X JENI’S: Hocus Pocus 2
I’ve decided to take two of my favorite things in the world - cinema and Jeni’s Ice Cream - and combine them. I introduce to you Films x Jeni’s: a blog series in which I review my recently watched films and subsequently pair them with the Jeni’s ice cream flavors that fit them best. Whether you’re looking for your next movie to watch, Jeni’s flavor to try, or simply want to be entertained by the way my brain processes information, grab your popcorn and enjoy the show.
With Hocus Pocus existing as one of the biggest cult-classic Halloween movies of recent generations, it’s safe to say the sequel was pretty highly anticipated by some. Taking place nearly 30 years after the original, Hocus Pocus 2 follows three high school girls in their journey to thwart the Sanderson Sisters in their attempts at world domination.
There’s not a whole lot to unpack here; to describe it in one word, I’d say it was cute. It’s a Disney+ release that was largely marketed towards families and adults who grew up on Hocus Pocus, so it had a fairly easy-to-please audience and achieved the standard of not being a totally trash sequel.
A lot of long-awaited sequels and spinoffs use the exact same character tropes or dynamics that proved the original source successful (i.e. in Girl Meets World, Cory and Topanga’s daughter Riley is a carbon copy of Cory, her best friend had the exact same characteristics as Shawn, and the new guy they befriend is Topanga; they just reversed all their genders). I highly appreciate that the writers didn’t take the easy way out with our new teenage female protagonist trio and decide to just recreate the dynamics of the Sanderson Sisters or the original protagonists. Instead, we had a trio of girls that could parallel our original characters in certain ways, but they largely had their own personalities. That being said, I will admit that the plot was practically identical to the first movie. However, the character development we saw in these Sanderson Sisters compared to the first movie was touching, even if a little cheesy.
The allure of a lot of older movies - Halloween movies in particular - is the nostalgic feel that 80’s and 90’s cinema offers. Not only did the campiness feel more natural (both the original and the sequel utilize a lot of camp humor), but a lot of us grew up on them which provides a kind of familiarity that takes time to create. The original Hocus Pocus very much fell into this category, and nostalgia is one thing the sequel can’t create on its own; it had to rely on its predecessor to do that, which is why the little references to the original sprinkled into it were smart and effective. At the end of the day, only time will tell if it provides the necessary nostalgia for the children of today to become a classic for them like the original was for many of us.
Would I watch it again? I’ve already watched it twice, and I think I’ll be good for a really long time.
Tear level: Did shed a tear
Watch when: you want a spooky, family-friendly Halloween movie for atmosphere
Soundtrack/score: Really beautifully hits your heart strings at the end. Yes John Debney and yes to the random, campy musical numbers by the Sanderson Sisters.
The Jeni’s Pairing
Naturally, we’re having a trio inspired by the legendary Sanderson Sisters themselves. For Sarah, we’re having a scoop of Wildberry Lavender, sweet and soft. For Mary, we’re adding a scoop of Brambleberry Crisp, a reliable people-pleaser. For Winifred, we’re rounding it out with a scoop of Pistachio Macaron, a holiday flavor that only comes around once every so often, just like the sisters. That being said, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit these were mostly chosen to represent their wardrobe color palette - purple for Sarah, Maroon for Mary, and Green for Winifred. We’re topping it all off with Jeni’s signature waffle cone because somehow the buttery richness of their recipe is like nostalgia for your taste buds.
MORE ON THE FLAVORS:
The combination of steam-distilled lavender buds, cold-pressed orange zest, and a tangle of blackcurrants is iconic. Jeni has been making this flavor for more than two decades, and it has endured because everyone who tries it finds their own unique memory within it.
To some, it tastes like fruit cereal milk. To others, it’s the flavor of springtime. To us, it’s the color lavender incarnate and the perfect pairing to a slice of buttery pound cake. Whatever this flavor means to you, it has been our greatest pleasure to make it all these years
Brambleberry Crisp is like a slice of fresh berry pie mixed with a scoop vanilla ice cream in every bite. Sweet vanilla ice cream made with high-quality vanilla from Madagascar. A regal purple jam swirl inspired by the blackberries and blackcurrants that grow wild all over the hillsides of the Appalachian foothills — the kinds of brambly berries Jeni would pick. And a brown sugar oat streusel crumble with just a kiss of cinnamon inspired by Jeni’s family recipe. It softens a little in the ice cream, just like on a real crisp. First introduced in 2009 during our Foggy Mountain Collection, Brambleberry Crisp was such a superstar that we had to keep it on the menu full-time.
A feast for the senses.
Jeni has always been told this flavor tastes like a perfect, pistachio green French macaron cookie. Freshly ground, roasted pistachios infuse the milk and cream with toasty nuttiness. A little honey for mystical, meringue-like texture. A touch of almond extract makes every other ingredient pop. Pistachio Macaron is an unrivaled thing of beauty.
