Hannah Waddingham’s Function as Mom Witch in Hocus Pocus 2

Picture Supply: Everett Collection

When you’re on the fence about watching “Hocus Pocus 2,” Hannah Waddingham’s cameo is greater than sufficient cause to slam that “play” button. The British Emmy winner stars within the Disney sequel as Mom Witch, a silver-haired sorceress who provides the Sanderson sisters their spellbook. Regardless of her pivotal position within the trio’s villain origin story — I imply, who would they be with out Bookie? — Waddingham’s Mom Witch has criminally restricted display time that clocks in at lower than 5 minutes. (She seems for about three minutes and 24 seconds, for anybody who’s planning to write down a proper letter of grievance.)

Efficiency-length issues apart, let’s unpack and respect Waddingham’s masterpiece of a scene, we could? When a younger Winifred, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson (portrayed by Taylor Paige Henderson, Juju Journey Brener, and Nina Kitchen, respectively) flee Salem, MA, to the Forbidden Woods, they encounter a red-and-black-feathered hen that swoops down from a tree department and transforms into Mom Witch. With glowing eyes, curly hair, and silver face gems, she’s a mesmerizing sight to behold within the in any other case drab forest.

After giving the women a very good sniff and realizing they’re totally different than the youngsters she sometimes snacks on, Mom Witch relinquishes her menacing facade and conjures up the leather-based spellbook with a nonchalant flick of the shoulder. “Blissful sixteenth birthday, little one,” she tells Winnie whereas bestowing the reward, plainly including, “I am a witch; I do know issues.” The latter line is not the one GIF-worthy assertion Mom Witch utters throughout her short-lived time on display; her rationalization for consuming kids is equally as iconic:

Picture Supply: Disney via Giphy

Mom Witch vanishes as rapidly as she arrives, solely forsaking a flurry of lifeless leaves, by no means to look once more within the movie. I believed perhaps she’d pop again up towards the tip when Becca (Whitney Peak), Izzy (Belissa Escobedo), and Cassie (Lilia Buckingham) face off with the Sanderson sisters within the woods, however alas, she’s nowhere to be seen*. (*doubtless off consuming kids to keep up her youthful look)

Maybe probably the most felony a part of Mom Witch’s short-lived cameo is the truth that it would not embody a musical quantity. The Sanderson sisters sing not as soon as however twice (thrice should you depend their ending-credits efficiency!) in the course of the film, however Waddingham’s powerhouse voice takes a backseat. A seasoned theater star who’s graced the stage in a number of West Finish and Broadway productions, Waddingham deserved to point out the film’s viewers her singing chops, simply as she often does on Apple TV+’s “Ted Lasso.”

On the plus facet, although, Mom Witch does current one of many many nostalgic Easter eggs tucked away in “Hocus Pocus 2.” As many viewers have been fast to watch on social media, her costume — a black fringe-lined cape layered over a blood-red robe — bears a putting resemblance to the witch costume Dani Dennison (Thora Birch) wears on Halloween within the unique “Hocus Pocus.” It is unclear if that was a deliberate transfer by the costume designer, however both manner, the similarities are fairly onerous to disregard.

Picture Supply: Disney / Everett Collection

“Hocus Pocus 2” remains to be an entertaining watch, even regardless of Waddingham’s lack of display time — it is campy, nostalgic, and simply what the physician ordered to get me within the fall spirit — however it could’ve been even higher if Mom Witch and her bad-b*tch vitality performed an even bigger position. If a 3rd Hocus Pocus film ever does come to fruition, contemplate this my private plea to Disney for extra Mom Witch.