IT CHAPTER 2 (2019)
9/8/19 - IT: Chapter Two (2019) - 3+/4-/10
The second chapter was frightening. Frighteningly long and unsuitably boring. Technically it is solid, but a fully fledged disappointment. This IT suffers a cardinal offense for horror: lacks the fear. And without that crucial element, it falls apart otherwise. I can’t imagine slogging my way through this near 3 hour strain ever again.
It struggles with characterization, concise editing, and story lag. There are many plotlines, character beats, and entire chunks of the film that are lacking and/or poorly executed. The unnecessary hate crime, the worthless inclusion of a previously vanquished foe, and the wishy-washy personifications were both ineffective and counterproductive. The interminableness of the film also sprouts from so often repeating, the incessance of the points being made, and the total lack of stakes laid out. Its just body punch after punch, each blow being blocked from hitting the audience in the ribs. Fruitless and tiring.
Almost every “scare” is solely jump, usually with “meh” inducing CGI that doesn’t even flirt with believable. The villainous iterations of Pennywise look cartoonish, when it isn’t him himself. It also struggled from a distinct lack of intrigue, with everyone knowing the fate of these protagonists. It didn’t help that you barely cared for most of them.
IT isn’t all bad, Hader and Rinsone are stellar (even though major elements of their character portrayals/scripting are maddening). The casting of the adult versions were also quite good, yet the final products were so-so, being given limited to work with or their final scenes being somewhat lacking.
The first IT was pretty good, but this was near complete failure. Unenjoyable when it had the possibility to deliver a strong finale. Perhaps finish it if you feel the need, but, I wager, you might be fine without it.