Rating of
3/4
You Can Never Outgrow Fear
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/17/19
While I found Chapter 1 to be a better adaptation of my personal favorite Stephen King novel, Chapter 2 isn't so much a step down as a step sideways. It still follows the novel pretty closely and benefits from some dynamite casting. Still, for all its horror elements, Chapter 2 also has a fair bit of humor - maybe a bit too much at times - but it a worthy follow-up and I'm waiting for the inevitable director's cut that meshes the two into a complete saga.
Chapter Two begins in Derry where a gay couple, Adrian Mellon (Xavier Dolan) and Don Hagarty (Taylor Frey) are accosted by some of Derry's finest, ultimately resulting in Mellon being thrown off a bridge where he thinks he is about to be rescued, but instead becomes the first victim in a long time of the shape-shifting Pennywise (once again, played to perfect creepy perfection by Bill Skarsgård). It doesn't take long for the only member of the Loser's Club to remain in Derry, Mike Hanlon (Isaiah Mustafa) to realize the ultimate evil has returned - and he wants nothing more than to get the gang back together.
Thus he sends out a series of calls - first to horror author Bill Denbrough (James McAvoy), risk assessment agent Eddie Kaspbrak (James Ransone), stand-up comedian Richie Tozier (Bill Hader), architect Ben Hanscom (Jay Ryan), Beverly Marsh (Jessica Chastain - unlike the novel/mini-series, it is not stated what she does, perhaps fashion, but she still has an abusive husband) and Stanley Uris (Andy Bean). Just like the novel, everyone seems to have forgotten about Derry - but as soon as Mike mentions the pact, it causes a reaction. Despite some reluctance, the Loser's reunite (well, almost all of them) - and their restaurant reunion soon takes a turn for the scary as it is quite apparent Pennywise is up for some revenge. But that doesn't mean there isn't a plan - Mike's research into a local native tribe has uncovered the Ritual of Chud - one that can supposedly stop the evil once and for all. In order to make it happen, however, each member must provide an item of deep significance - a totem - for the ritual.
This also allows the film to incorporate some flashbacks - and re-introduce the young cast (Jaeden Martell, Wyatt Oleff, Jack Dylan Grazer, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lillis, Chosen Jacobs and Jeremy Ray Taylor) - even if they had to digitally de-age some of them because, you know, kids grow. In any case, the most frightening moments come from these little asides.
All in all, the cast is wonderful, especially Hader, who makes the most of every scene he's in, while Chastain is perfectly matched with Lillis and McAvoy adds some dramatic punch to the mix. While a few scenes were a bit too tongue-in-cheek (such as the confrontation between the diseased hobo and an adult Eddie), and too many characters from the book were underutilized - like the adult Henry Bowers (Teach Grant), along with Bill's wife, Audra (Jess Weixler) - in general, the film does a good job of adapting the source material. Plus, look for a cameo from the master of horror himself - who pokes fun at himself in the process.
The long running time may turn some people off, but I think it's justified. There is enough material to pack the entire film without feeling over-stuffed. Even the ending manages to step things up and offer up a more interesting one than the mini-series (thought the book still trumps them both, even if it ends on a more poignant note). Director Andy Muschietti certainly has an eye for horror, and both the first film and this sequel more than prove that. And while I may not agree with every angle taken, it's still a find follow-up to the first film and worthy of your attention.
