It Chapter Two

Starring: Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, Andy Bean, Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Martell, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyatt Oleff, Owen Teague, Stephen King
Directed by: Andy Muschietti
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller
2019

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: 27 years after their initial encounter with Pennywise, the Losers reluctantly return to Derry to once again confront their worst nightmares.

Review:

Tim: It was surprisingly one of the best movies of 2017, and one of the best horror movies in recent memory. The frights were great, but the character development and (especially) the humor made it something fantastic. I loved the idea of splitting it into two films and having the sequel pick up 27 years later. I know this movie didn't do as well at the box office and didn't have the same critical appeal, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the film. Yes, there are some more visible flaws in this one, but it's an effective back end of this story and a horror movie I had a ton of fun watching.

I really enjoyed how this movie focused primarily on the adult version of the characters, but found compelling ways to include the incredible cast from the first film. This was often done through flashbacks, but there some other clever means to include the younger cast. I thought it gave the films a well-rounded feel, like they were two sides of the same coin. It tied the movies together well to really feel like it was one, long story. This movie continues the humor (although the dialogue isn't as funny when spoken by adults) and there was solid character development as well. The scares might have been lacking a bit, but there was some good creepy sequences.

One of the reasons I loved this movie is that they absolutely nailed the cast. Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy were so effective in the lead roles. They felt like believable adult extensions of the kids we loved in the first film. It helps that they're legitimately talented actors and that was on display here. I had a blast with both of them in the lead roles. It's funny, Finn Wolfhard completely stole every scene of his as Richie in the first movie. He was a delight to watch. I was in awe of how Bill Hader channeled that to play the adult version of Richie. Just like in the first film, Hader makes Richie steal every scene he's in. He brings so much humor to the role, but nails the more dramatic and emotional moments as well. Earlier in his career, I wasn't a big Bill Hader fan, but I'm rethinking that. He did exceptional, exceptional work here. It was nice seeing Isaiah Mustafa here. His performance was fine- it was a little dull and a little forgettable, but he mostly worked. I was shocked by how the ripped Jay Ryan was believable as the grown up Ben. I routinely shook my head watching his performance, because he looked like he could have been overweight as a kid- it was remarkable how well he fit the role. James Ransone did some solid work as well. And of course, you have Bill Skarsgard's zany performance as Pennywise. The cast was absolutely incredible, and combined with the kids from the first film, it was just a joy to watch them all perform.

While I liked the story a lot, it took forever to tell this story. A lot of it was character development, so the criticisms are blunted because that helps the overall story. Having a 2 hour, 49 minute horror sequel is a lot. It does make the film feel a bit epic, but honestly, it was a little too long. Some of the movie is repetitive- we see each of the characters confront a similar fear one after another (which eventually loses its edge because it's obvious what the film is doing). The whole story feels very familiar- it was too close to the original, so in some ways, it feels like we've already seen this. The climax of the film was utterly disappointing. It's funny, because the movie continually makes a meta joke about writer Bill's inability to write a good ending. It's an often voiced complaint about author Stephen King (whom I love and yet have to agree with at least some of that criticism). The joke throughout the film is quite funny, and yet, it hurts the movie when the ending (MINOR SPOILER ALERT) comes down to bullying. It just makes you shake your head. It's a bit disappointing. The visuals throughout the film are good, but it over-relies on large scary creature things chasing the protagonists.

These complaints definitely sink the movie below the first film. I wouldn't call this a "great" movie, but it's still a thoroughly good one. Despite the film's flaws, you have to applaud director Andy Muschietti. He created two films that tell a long horror story that spans 27 years. It effectively adapts a classic horror novel and mixed horror, emotional character development, and humor in an effective way. It Chapter Two might not be as good as the first film, but it's better than most horror movies in any given year. I had a lot of fun with this film and was entertained throughout. I'm a big, big fan of what Muschietti accomplished here.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: It, 1408, The Mist