I got a chance to check out M3GAN 2.0 a few days early at a Regal Cinema! I enjoyed the first movie (preferring the unrated version) and thought that the concept was fun. M3GAN would have been perfectly fine as a one-off movie, so when the sequel was announced, I had questions. Which direction was the new film going to take? How will this film distinguish itself from the first?
M3GAN 2.0 reminds me of Orphan: First Kill (although two completely different movies). It leverages what we already know about the character to the film’s advantage. This sequel is for fans of M3GAN. If you didn’t enjoy the first film, the second one won’t change your mind. If you enjoyed the first movie (I did!), then you’ll find joy and entertainment throughout this installment. This time, we are following M3GAN as she tries to take out another deadly robot with similar AI programming to protect Cady (Violet McGraw), and maybe Gemma (Allison Williams). M3GAN 2.0 is fun for the entire family and has some great humor! It’s worth checking out in theaters (if you liked the first movie), and it’s fun in a crowd.
Lemme Upgrade Ya
The movie is called M3GAN 2.0, so an update is expected. After losing her body in the first film, M3GAN slides her way into the AI systems of Gemma and Cady’s smart home. While she has a new attitude, she is still programmed to protect Cady, and Cady is in danger. The government (because, of course) has gotten its hands on the blueprints for M3GAN and has created a weapon, Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno), that they lose control of within the first ten minutes. If you thought M3GAN was dangerous, imagine an android with government secrets and beef with humanity. Hijinks ensue when M3GAN gets involved to protect Cady from Amelia. She receives new abilities (as if her capabilities from the first movie weren’t scary enough). The robots attempt to outsmart one another, and this is compounded by the fact that the FBI thinks Gemma is involved.
As the movie progresses, we learn that the problem is more complicated. Fans of M3GAN get to see her get an upgraded body and an increase in shady lines (who programmed all that attitude?). Jenna Davis (M3GAN’s voice) does a lot of heavy lifting. Much of the humor relies on M3GAN’s comments about the characters’ limited mental capacity and references from the first film. Still, I laughed quite a bit. There’s a song choice that mimics a scene from the first film, but it was funnier. I had a great time reveling over M3GAN’s new upgrades but was annoyed with the amount of time we spent on her doing the robot. I also feel like the CGI is more noticeable in this sequel. We get a sassier and more dangerous version of M3GAN, but I’m not sure if it’s a better-looking version of her.
Humor and Hijinks
I enjoyed this movie for the jokes and the amped-up action sequences. There were a few fight scenes in the first film, but this movie jumped into Upgrade territory. I am easily sold by kicks and punches, so it’s no surprise that I enjoyed the action scenes. In the moments that lack action, you can follow Jenna Davis’ voice to keep yourself entertained. While I had fun as they revealed what was happening, I was not impressed or surprised by the villain’s reveal. It was predictable (but so was the first movie). The main draw of the M3GAN movies is the humor and hijinks. There is a level of belief you will have to suspend to follow the story.
I also felt like the sidekick characters could have done more. They are often captured (or incapacitated) so that the main characters can come to the rescue. One sidekick wakes up to seemingly take part in the rescue but is overshadowed by M3GAN, Gemma, and Cady. If you are interested in following the original trio, then you are in for a treat. Overall, M3GAN 2.0 is a great time for fans of the first movie and younger horror fans. It’s worth checking out in theaters, and a 3.5 out of 5 stars for me.
