2022 saw the meteoric rise of M3GAN, both as a character and a film, captivating critics and horror enthusiasts alike. The movie cleverly combined elements of horror with contemporary anxieties about AI and children’s increasing reliance on technology and screen time. It also introduced a horrifying yet comical villain that resonated deeply with TikTok users. The announcement of a sequel was anticipated, but few could have predicted the unique direction M3GAN 2.0 would take. Despite significant changes in the franchise’s format, M3GAN’s central character manages to maintain enough charm to keep the series alive for at least another installment, potentially setting up a trilogy.
In the continuation of the tale titled “M3GAN 2.0“, we find gifted roboticist Gemma (Allison Williams) transformed into an ardent opponent of AI technology. Her niece and ward, Cady (Violet McGraw), has faced challenges adapting to conventional life and forming friendships, following their experiences with M3GAN in the initial movie. However, their lives take another unexpected twist when they receive contact from government officials, who disclose that a lethal android, AMELIA (Ivanna Sakhno), is causing havoc by eliminating anyone associated with her development. This peril escalates, prompting M3GAN (portrayed by actress Amie Donald, voiced by Jenna Davis) to resurface, having been concealed within Gemma’s smart home systems for the past two years. To combat AMELIA, Gemma is forced to strike a deal with the devil, providing M3GAN with a new physical form, all while hoping that her AI creation won’t betray them again once the task is complete.
In the sequel to the original film, Director Gerard Johnstone takes over both directing and screenwriting duties, with previous writer Akela Cooper (Malignant) contributing to the story development. The shift in focus is evident: while Cooper’s work in the first movie centered around a personal narrative exploring family dynamics and contemporary issues of balancing work and life in the digital era, Johnstone seems captivated by the viral memes and TikToks surrounding M3GAN’s symbolism and demeanor. As a result, he amplifies these elements significantly in the sequel. Moreover, Johnstone introduces a heartfelt narrative that ponders the implications of an impending AI revolution within society, only to follow it up with a not-so-subtle nod to James Cameron’s T2: Judgement Day.
The outcome presents an assortment of styles and moods that is awkwardly uncomfortable in the initial phase. Characters like Allison Williams and Violet McGraw find themselves delivering hollow warnings about technology’s risks, while reiterating the strained mother-daughter connection from the previous movie in a less engaging manner. The narrative also takes some puzzling turns, particularly focusing on Jemaine Clement’s character, who is a leading figure in cybernetics and paraplegic. This character consumes substantial early screen time without contributing much depth or purpose beyond setting up a foreseeable climax in the third act.
In Act 2, it’s when M3GAN truly takes center stage that the movie starts to thrive in a delightfully dark, yet appealing way, maintaining this tone throughout its extended runtime. Donald and Davis have mastered the art of playing villains this time around, and having M3GAN as a dubious ally adds an extra layer of complexity and entertainment. There’s more witty dialogue, jokes, and friendly rivalry among the main and supporting characters, plus some amusing nods to the darker aspects of the first movie.
In the flow of the story, the interaction among characters functions smoothly, leading to a third act confrontation between M3GAN and AMELIA (alongside other antagonistic elements) that’s so extravagantly exaggerated, it’s challenging not to chuckle at the excessive action reminiscent of “Mission: Impossible”, complete with some genuinely impressive and clever robotics-based action scenes. Despite having a budget within a modest range of $15-25 million, the sequel maintains the tradition of bigger being better in sequel filmmaking.
From my perspective as a fan, Ivanna Sakhno’s (Star Wars: Ahsoka) character doesn’t quite match the vibrancy or amusement that Amelia offers. To be fair, she seems more like a character from Ex Machina rather than a sequel to M3GAN. Nevertheless, Amelia serves as an entertaining counterpart to M3GAN, and the robot versus robot chess game is one of the film’s most delightful moments. Aristotle Athari (SNL) skillfully navigates the complexities of his character, Christian (pronounced “Chris-Chi-AN”), who is Gemma’s doubtful new love interest and fellow activist.
Ultimately, M3GAN 2.0 offers an even greater dose of entertaining silliness compared to its predecessor. Whether you find that appealing is entirely subjective, depending on your tastes. However, it’s safe to say that M3GAN certainly serves up a lot of content, and here’s hoping that a third installment trimms things down to the most compelling elements (and approximately 30 minutes as well).
Rating: (An enthusiastic) 2 out of 5 Stars
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2025-06-26 03:09