M3GAN 2.0

What started as one of my least anticipated movies of the year ended up being a surprisingly fun, franchise-worthy action flick. M3GAN 2.0 is-and trust me, it pains me to say this-this generation's Terminator 2.

In what feels like a deliberate attempt to gender-flip and modernize the Terminator formula, director Gerard Johnstone actually pulls it off. Like T2, this sequel manages to outshine the original by embracing action over horror, bringing back a former villain as a reluctant hero, and somehow making us root for them by the end.

The film hits almost every beat of T2-genre shift, character arcs, even the structure-yet it does it with enough style and self-awareness to feel fresh. It's not subtle about its inspirations, but it doesn't need to be. It's fun, sharp, and unapologetically over-the-top in all the right ways.

M3GAN 2.0 is definitely an improvement over the first, and now I'm genuinely curious to see where the series goes next. If we keep following the Terminator roadmap, I fully expect the next installment to be M3GAN: Rise of the AI, featuring a male M3GAN model named Mark-X hunting a now-off-the-grid Cady.

M3GAN 2.0 has the problem of trying to do way more than it has to. It thinks it needs to comment on so many different issues, and it tries to focus on too many characters and storylines. By the third act this movie has so many twists and turns that it just becomes convoluted and confusing. That's not to say there aren't some fun moments though. Once again the character of M3GAN is tons of fun to watch on screen and there's some decent action. What I liked so much about the first movie was the fact that the whole movie was about the dynamic between the aunt and the niece. This movie still somewhat has that dynamic but with all of the shenanigans, it loses focus of what made the original special. This is a movie that's so simple on paper and I probably would've liked it better if it didn't try and make the plot more complicated than it needed to be. I also wish they kept some of the horror elements. I still had a good time watching it for the most part but it's definitely a step down from the first one. 6/10.

Three years ago, it became a huge hit both financially and in terms of audience reception. There was no chance that this reception wouldn't lead to a sequel, and now, under the direction of the same director, we're back with a much-needed diversion, but leaving aside the horror to immerse ourselves in a fully accomplished action-comedy thriller.

Gerard Johnstone returns to direct with his original cast: Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Brian Jordan Alvarez, and Jen Van Epps. They're joined by an impeccable Ivanna Sakhno as the film's villain. The film works well, with a B-movie-style opening, before moving into a film that lets loose and makes the most of its budget, transforming into a true action odyssey with strange but effective comedy gags.

With a script that capitalizes on the elements that worked in the first installment and introduces some new touches that are well-tuned at certain moments in the film. However, we also find less ingenuity when it comes to confronting its premise and its message to convey the advancement of AI. It's a good sequel, with truly accomplished moments that make this second installment a much more delirious pastime than its original. The desire to make it something different is evident, and it successfully achieves that, seeking to win over a wider audience this time around.

Megan's new adventure ends up being a good piece of entertainment that truly deserves its viewing. It delivers exactly what it's meant to, without taking its aspects too seriously, and plays with nuances to establish a path that ultimately cements this doll as a new pop culture figure. This mission takes shape thanks to the relatability Megan conveys in her on-screen moments.

A fun, fulfilling, and entertaining film. A sequel that largely deviates from the original's path to establish a new franchise that appreciates the stupidity of its mission and embraces it with contagious joy, once again winning viewers' affection.

The movie is a fun, fast-paced sequel that leans into its creepy charm and techno-horror roots. The killer doll is back-smarter, sassier, and deadlier. While the story has a few weak spots and not all twists land, it's still an entertaining ride with slick visuals and some great dark humor. Not perfect, but definitely a good time.

Still, the pacing is brisk, the kills are inventive, and the tone strikes a fun balance between horror and absurdity. It may not be groundbreaking, but M3GAN 2.0 delivers exactly what fans came for.

A stylish, entertaining sequel that doesn't overthink itself. Just sit back and enjoy the chaos.

Too many times in horror movie sequels, it attempts to just rehash the exact same movie as the first one. But M3GAN 2.0 takes a letter from two other great horror franchises. Like Terminator 1 to Terminator 2, and Alien to Aliens, M3GAN 2.0 deviates from the horror formula and injects action and comedy blended with horror elements. It's nothing new, however, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself laughing and psyched up for many moments of the film. The tone was much more about the action and fighting than jumpscares and thrills, which I found myself enjoying, otherwise it would've felt too much like a clone of the first one.

Also, the theming of this movie really compliments many real world discussions and dilemmas about AI and its involvement in our lives. So there were many moments where it hit a little closer to home, maybe too close at some points, actually putting a quiet sense of dread in my mind about a possible AI revolution.

The movie wasn't perfect, and there were a few moments that I cringed, however, I can absolutely say that enjoyed so many more moments that I left the movie feeling satisfied and thrilled with the assortment of fist fights, gun fights, thrashed metal and bloody messes.