It Chapter Two
Director: Andy Muschietti
Writer: Gary Dauberman
Sequel to: It
Based on: Stephen King’s novel It
Cast: Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, Andy Bean, Bill Skarsgård, Jaeden Lieberher, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyatt Oleff, Xavier Dolan, Stephen King
Seen on: 9.9.2019

Content Note: fat hate, homomisia

Plot:
It has been 27 years since the Losers Club – Bill (Jaden Lieberher/James McAvoy), Richie (Finn Wolfhard/Bill Hader), Eddie (Jack Dylan Grazer/James Ransone), Stanley (Wyatt Oleff/Andy Bean), Ben (Jeremy Ray Taylor/Jay Ryan), Beverly (Sophia Lillis/Jessica Chastain) and Mike (Chosen Jacobs/Isaiah Mustafa) defeated Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård). It’s an episode they have all relegated to the realm of childish fantasy. Now all of them but Mike have left town, living their adult lives elswhere. Until they all receive a call from Mike, asking them to come back – because so has Pennywise.

It Chapter 2 is alright. The horror parts were a little disappointing, and the film was about an hour too long, but I did enjoy the character dynamics, albeit more in theory than in practice.

I wasn’t too excited about the first part, though I did enjoy it – maybe a little more than this one. The first film didn’t feel too long at least. The horror elements were definitely stronger in the first film, too, if you ask me. There were moments that got me, I will admit, but the big showdown and the unmaking of Pennywise came out of nowhere for me, and left me scratching my head more than really rejoicing at it.

The biggest point of interest to me here is to see where they went with the adult version of the kids. Who did they become and how is it getting back together in the old constellation, after many years spent apart? There were some good beginnings of characterization here, but they remained a little underdeveloped.

Bev doesn’t outgrow her designation as love object in the middle of all these boys/men. The fat hate that comes with Ben and his character development was quite astonishing, embedded in a long series of fat jokes, and very hard to take. (At least he and Bev finally get together – like they should have in the first film already. But even with that subplot, the execution wasn’t really great.) And Richie’s love would have been so much more meaningful if it hadn’t been played as a plottwist that quickly devolves in a version of the kill your gays trope. In short, issues were had.

Still, the film is entertaining enough and it’s definitely isn’t unwatchable. But if you just watch the first one, you probably won’t miss that much either.

Summarizing: Okay.