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It: Chapter 2
Imaginative direction, superb production values, and solid performances notwithstanding, It: Chapter 2 starts off promising, but eventually falters due to the fatal disease of "Sequel-itis", the dreaded cinematic disease where the creators of the first film work tirelessly to bring us something bigger and better, but the overly complex screenplay which attempts to blend previous backstory with new backstory, weighs the film down and makes it go on forever.
The 2019 thriller finds the Losers Club from Derry reunited as Mike, the only member who remained in Derry for the 27 years since the events of the first film, sees a connection between some current Derry tragedies involving children and what happened to the club members all those years ago. As Mike contacts the other members, we are reminded of the pact they made at the end of the first film and the story seems to become a look at the consequences when one member of the club chooses to commit suicide rather than return to Derry as promised.
Stephen King's original novel has been re-imagined beyond recognition by screenwriter Gary Dauberman who has decided it was not only necessary to rehash events from the first film, but to not only rehash backstory that was covered in the first film, but to create new backstory that is supposed to allegedly provide more insight into why this Pennywise was torturing these children in the first place, but because one of the members of the club commits suicide, it all seems to be irrelevant since the point of the first film was the fact that the group's safety was contingent upon them being together, staying together, and returning whenever "it" did, rendering a lot of what goes on here pointless.
Despite the way the screenplay destroys a lot of the point of the story, director Andy Muschietti is to be applauded for the endless invention he brings to this story, including some startling visuals and unparalleled special effects that found this reviewer spending the majority of the screen time with clenched butt cheeks and jumping from my chair. I did love the methodical set up of the story...watching Mike make the calls and watching the group's reaction to what they remembered and what they didn't was interesting. That first reunion of the group in that Chinese restaurant was something that will be burned in my memory forever because its breezy beginning takes a turn we don't see coming.
The performances are first rate, with standout work from Jessica Chastain as Beverly, James McAvoy as Bill, Jay Ryan as Ben, and especially Bill Hader as Richie (there's even a cameo from Stephen King), but the story's endlessly winded screenplay makes it hard for the viewer to stay completely invested in the overlong and ultimately silly finale, which pretty much spits in the face of everything we've already seen.
Imaginative direction, superb production values, and solid performances notwithstanding, It: Chapter 2 starts off promising, but eventually falters due to the fatal disease of "Sequel-itis", the dreaded cinematic disease where the creators of the first film work tirelessly to bring us something bigger and better, but the overly complex screenplay which attempts to blend previous backstory with new backstory, weighs the film down and makes it go on forever.
The 2019 thriller finds the Losers Club from Derry reunited as Mike, the only member who remained in Derry for the 27 years since the events of the first film, sees a connection between some current Derry tragedies involving children and what happened to the club members all those years ago. As Mike contacts the other members, we are reminded of the pact they made at the end of the first film and the story seems to become a look at the consequences when one member of the club chooses to commit suicide rather than return to Derry as promised.
Stephen King's original novel has been re-imagined beyond recognition by screenwriter Gary Dauberman who has decided it was not only necessary to rehash events from the first film, but to not only rehash backstory that was covered in the first film, but to create new backstory that is supposed to allegedly provide more insight into why this Pennywise was torturing these children in the first place, but because one of the members of the club commits suicide, it all seems to be irrelevant since the point of the first film was the fact that the group's safety was contingent upon them being together, staying together, and returning whenever "it" did, rendering a lot of what goes on here pointless.
Despite the way the screenplay destroys a lot of the point of the story, director Andy Muschietti is to be applauded for the endless invention he brings to this story, including some startling visuals and unparalleled special effects that found this reviewer spending the majority of the screen time with clenched butt cheeks and jumping from my chair. I did love the methodical set up of the story...watching Mike make the calls and watching the group's reaction to what they remembered and what they didn't was interesting. That first reunion of the group in that Chinese restaurant was something that will be burned in my memory forever because its breezy beginning takes a turn we don't see coming.
The performances are first rate, with standout work from Jessica Chastain as Beverly, James McAvoy as Bill, Jay Ryan as Ben, and especially Bill Hader as Richie (there's even a cameo from Stephen King), but the story's endlessly winded screenplay makes it hard for the viewer to stay completely invested in the overlong and ultimately silly finale, which pretty much spits in the face of everything we've already seen.