Since
I've officially read Stephen King's mammoth opus to childhood It
twice now – once in conjunction with The Stand (word of advice:
don't ever do this) and the other time right before Chapter 1
released – I consider myself to have an at least fledgling
understanding of the book and its various eccentricities. So, before
you begin jumping to conclusions about how lackluster I might feel
about the second half of a five hour movie, let it be known that the
book is overly complicated, prone to leaps of illogical actions by
the protagonists (The Ritual of C.H.U.D. MAKES NO SENSE) and might
have the worst payoff for a 1100-page read that I can imagine (the
fate of Tom Rogan still ticks me off). So, after saying this, is it
really any surprise that Chapter 2 just couldn't pull off the magic
of its predecessor?
Look,
despite the problems I'm about to list off, Chapter 2 is still a
pretty well-made movie with a few surprises even for me (because of
the whole read-the-book-twice thing). The cinematography is still
just as excellent as its prequel, the script flows well enough and
the transition between horror and humor is sometimes so jarring that
you have to think about the joke for a moment to realize just how
funny it is in context to the scene. Throw in a phenomenal casting
job lead by a returning Bill Skarsgard in a much more limited role
and Bill Hader as the literal voice of the audience and the whole
movie even manages to carry its surprises for its extended run time.
It was a nearly 3 hour movie that didn't actually feel like it. Take
that, Endgame!
Unfortunately,
the writing tends to show its hand far too much, leading to scenes
that felt like they would have been better utilized in Chapter 1 but
the script writers didn't think about it until 2 years later. Its
cute that Ben (Jeremy Ray Taylor/Jay Ryan) builds a secret clubhouse
and that it plays any significance in Chapter 2, but why wasn't it
even mentioned in part 1? Also, why was Pennywise (Skarsgard) so
anxious to bring the Losers back to Derry when they very nearly
killed him last time? The whole point of the Losers losing their
memories of Derry and finding unbelievable success in their adult
lives was so they would have very little reason to risk their
now-wonderful lives on a seemingly fool's errand to kill their worst
nightmare. I'm aware its probably too much to ask for logic in a
movie about a bunch of nearly forty-somethings returning to their
childhood home to destroy a child-eating demon clown (or whatever
Pennywise is), but it would have been nice if Part 2 could have stood
alone like its predecessor and finished its fight on its own terms.
As for
watching it, got anything else to watch this weekend? Let's be honest
here: if you saw Chapter 1, you're totally going to watch Chapter 2
even if its for no other reason than to see how they try (and only
sort of succeed) in tying off the massive loose ends. I've can
honestly say I've seen worse movies starring a clown in a supporting
role.
Andy
Muschietti (Mama) continues to sow his horror roots with It Chapter
2, a decently-made, if maddeningly less interesting, attempt to
follow up his most successful movie with a satisfying ending. When
Pennywise returns from his 27 year slumber to once again feed on the
children of Derry, Mike (Isaiah Mustafa) takes time out off his Old
Spice commercials to call back friends that only he remembers in
hopes of killing the creature once and for all. Along the way,
Ritchie (Hader) will continue to say things the audience is feeling
by occasionally even pointing out plotholes, Eddie (James Ransone)
will have the most perfect job ever for a hypochondriac ever and the
scriptwriters will frantically recall all the child actors because
they will realize they forgot to shoot some random scene inherently
important in the sequel. Don't feel bad, movie makers. Part 2 just
isn't filmable in a satisfying way.
My
score: 6/10. Sadly, Mike started using lady-scented body wash and no
longer uses Old Spice to smell like the man your man can be. That's
probably the reason Pennywise can smell his fear. Sorry, I couldn't
help myself.
