While it leans into some unbelievable twists—piling villain on villain—that’s part of its charm. M3gan 2.0 does justice to its predecessor, ensuring it is a sequel worth watching.
M3gan 2.0 is a surprise that leans into what made the first film successful, capturing and elevating the wit the killer robot exuded. The sequel expands on the first. It gives Terminator meets Fast and Furious energy meet Bioshock aesthetics. While M3gan was the greatest threat to Gemma and Cady, times changed. While it leans into some unbelievable twists—piling villain on villain—that’s part of its charm. M3gan 2.0 does justice to its predecessor, ensuring it is a sequel worth watching.
Written by Akela Cooper (Hell Fest, Malignant), Gerard Johnstone (M3gan, Housebound), and James Wan (The Conjuring, Dead Silence), and directed by Johnstone, the movie follows the previous. Cady, played by Violet McGraw (The Life of Chuck, Doctor Sleep), visits the child therapist one more time. The film uses this as exposition to go over the events following M3gan’s killings and subsequent defeat.
While Cady’s aunt Gemma, performed by Allison Williams (Get Out, The Perfection) is more active in Cady’s life, she’s also more restrictive and controlling, determined to shelter Cady from the next big bad. But M3gan, played by Amie Donald and voiced by Jenna Davis (Lisa Frankenstein) is lurking, and another android, Amelia, played by Ivanna Sakhno (Let It Snow, Pacific Rim: Uprising) is on the prowl. The foes are aplenty and the laughs are neverending as Gemma must rely on M3gan to stop another killer android.
M3gan 2.0 Turns It All Up
The sequel leans into what made the first film entertaining, creating new iconic scenes, and even catching viewers off guard. The creators amped up the quips, fights, humor, and, of course, M3gan’s singing. While some of the plot becomes convoluted and a character inessential, M3gan 2.0 nails most of the entertainment. Plus, it allows Gemma and Cady to get in on the action. In fact, the film focuses on women and girls smacking down their foes (often men) one by one. The few men with lines are comedic relief and horrible at their job, making it even easier to immerse in and enjoy the film.
Humanizes M3gan and Asks Questions
While there are plenty of surprises and laughs, this movie challenges M3gan’s label as a homicidal killer. After all, who bears the responsibility if M3gan behaves within the parameters of her program? Even the first film highlights Gemma’smistakes. It’s a Frankenstein versus creator question. Also, can we ascribe human labels and sentiments to something we claim is not human? M3gan 2.0 opens the door to these questions and maintains excitement with each scene. Amelia is a great villain, even if some of the scenes in the end become a bit convoluted.
M3gan 2.0 successfully pulls off what Don’t Breath’s sequel failed at—allowing audiences to connect to and root for the villain, sans turkey baster. It keeps the momentum high, ratchets up the combat, while delving into the ethical aspects of technology, and gives audiences more of what they love—M3gan. Watching this with an audience is hilarious. From slap to song, M3gan 2.0 keeps everyone engrossed and adds more iconic scenes to its collection.
