Too many demons, but something wicked this way comes.
There’s a similar reaction to “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Endgame,” and “The Matrix Reloaded” and “Revolutions.” It was a Pennywise choice to split Stephen King’s “It” in two chapters. If it was just one movie, then we’d have two issues.
1.) It probably would aggravate people that it would be too long of a horror movie. Combine the two movies together, and you’d have about five hours of footage. Remember: we barely, barely receive intermissions anymore, like with “Lawrence of Arabia” or “Ben-Hur.”
2.) If Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema catered to their spoiled needs, then it would have been crammed too hard in one short movie. I often complain about that sort of thing in short movies, mostly for kids.
The first “It” from 2 years ago was a horror masterpiece, not just for the evil clown Pennywise (Bill Skarsgard), but also because of the demons the main kids deal with-bullying, abuse, loss, and guilt. Now, director Andy Muschietti returns to the director’s chair with “Chapter Two,” which goes overboard at times with all the supernatural activities, but still completes the story with patience, timing, and energy.
The Losers Club has grown up and gone their separate ways, although they make a pack that if the clown returns, they would return.
Bill (James McAvoy) is a famous writer, whose book endings get panned by everyone, including Peter Bogdanovich. Richie (Bill Hader) is now a bitter comedian. Ben (Jay Ryan) has lost weight and is now an architect. Eddie (James Ransone) is a still a hypochondriac. And Bev (Jessica Chastain) is still haunted by her sadistic father. They all receive phone calls from Mike (Isaiah Mustafa), the only one who remained here in Derry, who informs them they need to come back home.
But what about Stanley (Andy Bean)? Unfortunately, he committed suicide, and Bev knew how he was gonna die. Matter of fact, she knows how they’ll die, unless they can perform a sacred ritual.
The movie splices the past with the present, and it’s interesting to see things we never would expect from the Losers Club members. They’re still portrayed by the original child stars: Jaeden Martell (formally Lieberher) as Bill, Wyatt Oleff as Stanley, Jack Dylan Grazer as Eddie, Finn Wolfhard as Richie, Sophia Lillis as Bev, Chosen Jacobs as Mike, and Jeremy Ray Taylor as Ben.
And remember Harry Bowers (Nicholas Hamilton)-the pocket knife wielding bully? He survived and is placed in the funny farm for murdering his father. That is until Pennywise’s evil frees the adult psychopath (Teach Grant) from there.
“It: Chapter Two” does go over the top when most of the evil multiples in many weird and crazy ways. They make me feel the film goes a bit far, but I acknowledge that’s what the whole point of Stephen King’s story is. Luckily, they don’t drag on too long, and I’m able to root for the characters and their mission to eradicate their nightmare.
Chastain, McAvoy, Hader, Mustafa, Ryan, and Ransone are all fine in the ways they mature into adults who still battling their own guilts, some of which we weren’t expecting. And Skarsgård continues to live up to Tim Curry’s terrors and thrills.
There are extra poisons added to the story, like homophobia and lies. In fact, the opening scene with a homosexual couple getting attacked by assailants left me angry at the hatred inside. And there are also a variety of gags that audiences can relate to. At least, I think so, because I was laughing at them myself.
The time length isn’t my problem; just a sinister overdose. But still, given the challenges and chills, I’ve enjoyed it enough to recommend it to fans.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
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