ReelBob: ‘It Chapter Two’ ★★½
By Bob Bloom
“It Chapter Two” returns the now-adult members of The Losers Club to Derry, Maine, where they again must face down their fears and put an end to the evil entity, Pennywise, who has returned after 27 years to again go after the town’s children.
At the end of “It,” the seven young friends made a blood oath to gather again if Pennywise returned.
Thus, when Michael (Isaiah Mustafa), the only member of the group to remain in Derry, sees that children are again disappearing, he calls his old friends.
They are not happy about hearing from Michael, nor about his reminder of the oath they took. Only reluctantly do they return to their childhood haunt.
As soon as the adults gather, they regret their decision. Their old fears quickly well up; it’s as if they revert to their childhood personas.
Director Andy Muschietti is again behind the camera. The movie runs 169 minutes, and a lot of that time is filled with flashbacks to the group’s first encounter with Pennywise, with new footage featuring the young actors from the first movie.
While “Chapter Two” is a solid movie with some sharply scary moments — courtesy of another devilish performance by Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise — the sequel lacks the emotional heft and resonance of the first feature.
Perhaps, that is because the notion of adults battling the malevolent clown does not deepen your investment as much as a group of youngsters facing off against a monster.
That said, “Chapter Two’s” most powerful moments focus on the mental turmoil that continue to ravage the adult Losers years after their adolescent encounters with Pennywise.
The reunion awakens memories for Beverly (Jessica Chastain), Bill (James McAvoy), Richie (Bill Hader), Ben (Jay Ryan), Eddie (James Ransone) and Mike.
The power of “Chapter Two” is the strength the adults channel when working together to finally rid Derry of its supernatural scourge.
Gary Dauberman’s script is too long and cluttered. Even with its extended running time, the movie feels overstuffed.
Despite all its bells and whistles, the horror elements lack the punch of the original. Pennywise, despite his menacing appearances, fails to raise the hackles as strongly as he did in the first feature.
Skarsgard’s clown is at his best when he psychologically terrorizes the adult Losers, seemingly causing them to emotionally devolve to their younger selves.
The film’s final moments are too sentimental and play like a tacked-on, feel-good coda. Admittedly, “It Chapter Two” is chaotic, but it offers enough substance to make it a solid and acceptable horror sequel. It’s just not the epic that audiences may have anticipated.
I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My reviews appear at ReelBob (reelbob.com) and Rottentomatoes (www.rottentomatoes.com). I also review Blu-rays and DVDs. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com or on Twitter @ReelBobBloom. Links to my reviews can be found on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
IT CHAPTER TWO
2½ stars out of 4
(R), disturbing and bloody images, language, graphic violence, crude sexual material