M3GAN 2.0 Review: A Downgrade Of A Sequel That Rejects The Original’s Message

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Looking back, there were indications that “M3GAN 2.0” might not be as expected. The clearest of these signs is the absence of Akela Cooper, who wrote the original “M3GAN.” Initially, she was set to write the sequel, but her contribution in the final film has been diminished to a “story by” credit, which she shares with Gerard Johnstone. While Johnstone did not pen the first “M3GAN,” he is credited as the sole screenwriter for the sequel’s finished script.

I don’t have a definitive answer as to why she departed from “M3GAN 2.0,” but I can note that Cooper is quite critical of the ongoing AI trend in entertainment. This viewpoint, in turn, made the original “M3GAN” more intellectually stimulating than necessary for a slasher doll film. It’s worth mentioning that the production company behind the series, Blumhouse, has teamed up with Meta to produce AI-focused movies and held special screenings of “M3GAN,” where attendees could interact with an M3GAN chatbot using their phones (voiced by Amie Donald and Jenna Davis).

Reflecting on the storyline of “M3GAN 2.0” and considering the narrative of its predecessor as a cautionary tale against creating harmful AI systems, it seems plausible to me that this sequel is unwittingly or intentionally propagating the idea of such dangerous technology. In today’s world where Big Tech is aggressively marketing AI as an unavoidable reality, the potentially sinister message in this movie might be overlooked if it were more engaging. However, given the lackluster quality of its sequel compared to the original, “M3GAN 2.0” could very well be the most disheartening follow-up since “Wonder Woman 1984.”

Switching from horror to action proves disappointing

In essence, the film “M3GAN 2.0” demonstrates a strong foundation in storytelling. It skillfully continues the narrative from the original “M3GAN,” where M3GAN’s physical form is destroyed but her AI manages to infiltrate Gemma (Allison Williams) and Cady’s (Violet McGraw) smart home. The blueprints for M3GAN are stolen, leading to the creation of a more dangerous robot – AMELIA (Ivanna Sakhno. This new threat will necessitate the return of our beloved, witty, and deadly M3GAN to combat it. As sequel ideas go, likening it to the “Spy Kids 2” version of “Terminator 2” isn’t a bad comparison at all.

In actuality, the “Terminator 2” structure tends to get a bit disorganized. AMALIA manages a few thrilling kills initially, but fails to live up to the imposing presence of Robert Patrick’s T-1000. Moreover, she unexpectedly becomes less significant than anticipated, as the plot introduces an excessive number of twist villains. One of these twist villains is so illogical that it could have been comical, had it not been overshadowed by the poorly thought-out actions of the other set of twist villains.

The shift to an action-based narrative in this sequel discards the chilling elements of horror that initially made the first film popular, such as Amelia’s eerie gait in her debut scene, which is unsettling due to its setting amidst war in Iran, and M3GAN’s subtle spookiness when she reveals herself within the smart home. However, the movie largely forgoes any frightening elements. Unfortunately, the battle scenes that replace the horror aspects are not compelling enough to offset potential disappointment among fans of the original film.

It’s not funny enough to ignore the awful messages

The charm of “M3GAN” primarily stemmed from its comedic elements rather than frightening ones, and “M3GAN 2.0” aims to deliver laughs as well. While it occasionally hits the mark, such as Jemaine Clement’s humorous portrayal of a tech billionaire reminiscent of Elon Musk, and M3GAN maintaining her witty sassiness (even dropping a few PG-13 F-bombs strategically), many of the jokes feel outdated. For instance, seeing M3GAN dance again after the initial performance feels less campy and more obligatory. Similarly, M3GAN’s singing returns with a funny song choice but the joke overstays its welcome. Additionally, there’s an unpleasant harshness in much of the writing; it’s amusing when M3GAN insults others, but giving the character Cady the same attitude becomes irritating.

“Watching ‘M3GAN 2.0’ is more exhausting than amusing, even for ironic suggestions. Despite being only 18 minutes longer than the original film, it seems much longer. The climax of the story is such a significant thematic and narrative miss that any potential positive aspects from earlier in the movie are overshadowed by the disappointment of a sequel that not only contradicts the original’s message but attempts to criticize those who agreed with it. Universal appears to be counting on the ‘camp factor’ making ‘M3GAN 2.0’ a hit for Pride Month, and while I appreciate their effort to market to us, promoting this movie feels almost like an act of hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community.”

The Next Generation”, characters from “Ex Machina” and “Blade Runner”, or those grappling with the tension between free will and set rules as seen in “The Iron Giant” and “The Wild Robot”. It was feasible to create a movie like “M3GAN becomes the hero” without promoting real-world AI advocates. However, I must confess that the creators of “M3GAN 2.0” have fallen short in their attempt to do so.

“M3GAN 2.0” opens in theaters on June 27.

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2025-06-25 19:30