Send in the clowns. After a two-year wait, “IT Chapter Two” is finally here. Once again directed by Andy Muschietti (“IT”), this sequel finds the estranged Losers’ Club returning to Derry, Maine to end the deadly antics of Pennywise the Clown (Bill Skarsgård, “Villains”) once and for all. Boasting a runtime of close to three hours, “IT Chapter Two” is definitely epic in terms of length and ambition; but as a result it falters with pacing and story. Regardless, the film is a ghoulish romp with strong performances.
The strength of “IT Chapter Two” comes from its leads. Set 27 years after the first installment, the assorted group of friends that cycled through the neighborhoods of Derry are now adults who have drifted apart and are consumed by their own personal lives. The updated cast includes Jessica Chastain (“Dark Phoenix”) as Beverly Marsh, James McAvoy (“Glass”) as Bill Denbrough, Bill Hader (“The Angry Birds Movie 2”) as Richie Tozier, Isaiah Mustafa (“The Clinic”) as Mike Hanlon, Jay Ryan (“Lou”) as Ben Hanscom, James Ransone (“Captive State”) as Eddie Kaspbrak and Andy Bean (“Transformers: The Last Knight”) as Stanley Uris. Chastain, McAvoy and Hader especially stand out with their performances as individuals who have to come to terms that their childhood nightmare has returned. The actors also share great chemistry. One scene in particular at a Chinese restaurant stands out not because of its horrific payoff, but because it feels like a joyful reunion among friends.
Central to the plot of “IT Chapter Two” is a theme regarding our relationships as we mature. As many of us will experience, our friends today may not be our friends tomorrow. People will move away, friends pass away, romantic advances are quelled by rejection, etc. This theme combined with that of facing our deepest fears and adapting to unconformable circumstances demonstrate that being an adult does not automatically signify we are done growing as a person. We can still make changes, right wrongs and rekindle past romances. Situations are only set in stone if we let them.
Stylistically speaking, “IT Chapter Two” is identical to its 2017 counterpart. Anybody residing in a small town will automatically forge a connection to the blue collar ecosystem that is Derry, Maine. However, within that familiarity is a lingering sense of dread as anyone or anything could be the manic mime. The current events featured in this film are juxtaposed with flashbacks with the original 2017 cast and are used to further their development and provide the audience with more insight into who these characters are.
Once again, Pennywise the Clown is enjoyable to watch. Due to the nature of It’s powers, the filmmakers are able to conjure up unique transformations and sequences for our protagonists to endure. While a few of the scares scattered throughout the film are quite obvious in their setup, some are subtle, leading to great horror entertainment. The CGI and effects are favorable for the most part, but a few seem a little too cartoony and silly to be viewed as frightening. The logistics of this monster are also questionable. It can kill children with ease but he toys with our main protagonists like some clownish James Bond villain. Simply put, It’s powers are seemingly unlimited and yet it still cannot manage to kill off this crew of noncombatant adults.
The movie’s biggest issue is its runtime. At almost three hours, “IT Chapter Two” is an almost laborious viewing experience. The film itself takes a while to get into the meat of the story but seeing how we need to reestablish the current lives of our protagonists, that is naturally forgivable. However, as we move further into the film’s narrative, it feels like we are entering into an unending stream of exposition-heavy, grotesque horror sequences. Just when you think it is over, you realize there is still an hour of movie left.
Not withstanding, “IT Chapter Two” is a solid conclusion to the Stephen King adaptation. It has scares, laughs and even some touching moments that everybody can relate to. It may not rank with the top-tier King adaptations but it is a fun viewing experience and with September being a barren month for movies, fun is what we desperately need. IT is a good movie.
Image from Warner Bros. Pictures via YouTube
