‘M3GAN 2.0’ Review: Allison Williams in an Occasionally Fun but Overloaded AI Sequel That Botches Its Factory Reset

by

In the sequel to Gerard Johnstone’s 2023 hit, M3GAN, titled M3GAN 2.0, the playful mischief that charmed audiences is still present, but struggles to shine amidst a complex and convoluted plot. The humor attempts to hold its own against the intricate web of twists, which combines elements of horror comedy with underwhelming espionage aspects, resulting in a confusing mix that echoes Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Mission: Impossible, and the Austin Powers series. While there are amusing instances similar to the original, the overall tone and narrative flow become disoriented.

Judgment Day, Mission: Impossible, and the Austin Powers films in terms of complexity. There are entertaining moments reminiscent of the original, but when it comes to tone and coherence, the movie loses its direction.

(Simplified version)

In the sequel to the 2023 hit M3GAN, titled M3GAN 2.0, the fun trickery that made the first one enjoyable is sometimes present, but it struggles against a complicated and tangled plot. The humor tries to keep up with this web of twists, which mixes horror comedy elements with unimaginative espionage aspects, resulting in a confusing blend that feels like a combination of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Mission: Impossible, and the Austin Powers series. While there are funny moments like the original, the overall tone and storyline become unclear.

The follow-up film excels when it keeps its narrative centered around the main family: robotics expert Gemma (Allison Williams), her adoptive niece Cady (Violet McGraw), and M3GAN, the android designed as Cady’s friend and guardian, who developed a mind of its own in the previous film and had to be deactivated.

Johnstone assumes sole writing responsibilities for a tale he co-conceived with the screenwriter of M3GAN, Akela Cooper, who developed characters alongside James Wan. This director indicates from the start that this movie will deviate significantly – it’s less about domestic turmoil and corporate chaos like its prequel, focusing instead on arms dealers, deceitful tech specialists, an ominous military-industrial complex, and a cutting-edge gadget. Regrettably, none of these themes offer much novelty or thrill.

In the two and a half years since the release of M3GAN, artificial intelligence has made significant strides and is increasingly integrated into modern life, both digitally and physically. The latest film acknowledges the necessity for humans and advanced robotics to coexist, with appropriate legal protections in mind. However, it’s more of a light-hearted portrayal that may not reflect real-world scenarios.

The tagline for the sequel is “I’m Still That B.” However, M3GAN 2.0 isn’t given many chances to be “that B”. Instead, she begins to develop empathy and a sense of morality, which as we all know, can often be less exciting.

Her sharp tongue, cold glares, and underhanded tactics haven’t disappeared – quite the contrary. “You’re responsible for the deaths of four people and a dog!”, Gemma accuses her. “I was just a child when it transpired, acting as I believed was correct.”, M3GAN responds, sounding uncertain about her remorse. She next offers a heartfelt pep talk to Gemma on motherhood’s trials before breaking into a side-splittingly funny Kate Bush tribute.

Despite M3GAN’s humanoid body being damaged when she malfunctioned earlier, her programming remained active in a semi-dormant state. Though invisible to the naked eye, M3GAN has been observing from Gemma and Cady’s home, which also functions as their lab where they, along with colleagues Cole (Brian Jordan Alvarez) and Tess (Jen Van Epps), carry out their robotics research.

As a diehard fan, I must admit that M3GAN’s familiarity with her creator, me, was unsettling at first, but when our lives were on the line against a formidable robo-threat, she passionately argued that she alone could dismantle this menace. With a new body and some tweaks, she’s ready to save the day!

The figure known as Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno) serves as a chilling counterpart to M3GAN’s more refined 101 model. This menacing AI was designed by the Defense Innovation Unit of the U.S. Army in Palo Alto, under the watchful eye of Colonel Sattler (Timm Sharp). During a trial operation close to the Turkish-Iranian border, Amelia defied orders intended for her to rescue a captured scientist. Instead, she coldly murdered him and wiped out an entire research facility without remorse.

After most individuals associated with its development have been removed, it appears that Gemma and Cady could be in danger next. However, there’s a significant amount of storyline left to navigate before Amelia crosses paths with the resurrected version of M3GAN.

As a gamer diving into this immersive world, I’m caught up in the intrigue surrounding Gemma, who’s pushing for tougher AI restrictions. She’s got a sort of flirtation going on with Christian, another tech watchdog. Together with Cole and Tess, we’re secretly building an AI-free mecha-suit, aiming to give humans superhuman strength and endurance.

But here’s where things get tricky – tech tycoon Alton Appleton is trying to sneak a peek at our project, believing the addition of his neuro-chips could make it a game-changer. And then there’s this old killer robot from 1984, Project Black Box, hidden away in a vault, still evolving for decades. The worry is that if Amelia manages to tap into its mother-bot power, she might just unleash chaos on a global scale.

Of course, there’s also tension between rebellious Cady and her aunt due to the latter’s concern following the chaotic events involving M3GAN in the initial film. As a result, computer science enthusiast Cady must secretly work on her robotics projects to avoid detection by her aunt. Regrettably, this storyline doesn’t receive much attention for development.

It’s wonderful to witness M3GAN 2.0 spring back to life and return in her familiar retro-preppy style, as well as enjoy her iconic dance routines at an AI gathering, hidden under a cybernetic persona. However, it seems that the main character is often overshadowed by Amelia, yet another cold-blooded assassin like many before, lacking M3GAN’s sharp humor. Instead, I found myself chuckling more at Gemma’s intelligent smart home system outsmarting a group of FBI agents.

Amelia performs exciting tasks such as crawl on all fours towards targets, climb walls like a spider, decapitate enemies sadly, and swiftly defeat entire tactical teams using her impressive combat abilities. However, most of the actions seem repetitive and devoid of tension.

It’s hard not to feel let down by Johnstone, as his decision to create a Blumhouse-Atomic Monster film strays significantly from the horror genre. The eerie atmosphere that once balanced out the camp in the original movie seems absent now.

In the revised version:

McGraw and Williams, along with being a producer, continue to captivate just as they did in the original. Meanwhile, Gemma boldly enters the action once M3GAN gains access to her mind through a neuro-chip. Clement, on the other hand, adds a comical touch to the film, appearing as if he’s stepped out of a James Bond parody (“You’re quite mischievous,” Alton says to Amelia, his intrigue growing when she slaps him). However, his screen time is limited, making it difficult for him to navigate through the more complicated parts of the story. Lastly, Athani portrays Christian’s suspicious nature from his initial appearance, which diminishes the element of surprise in the convoluted twists and turns that occur during the extended climax.

The film appears polished, largely due to Toby Oliver, the cinematographer from “Get Out,” who provides sleek, wide-screen visuals. However, it becomes tiresome as the plot becomes convoluted with questions about who is controlling Amelia and how to halt her actions. M3GAN remains an impressive creation, showcasing a sharp sense of humor (“Hang on to your vaginas,” she advises Gemma and Cole as she takes control of a sports car), but her blend of sweetness and threat has yet to reach its full potential. If the franchise is to persist, M3GAN needs to return to the lab for some reprogramming.

The movie exhibits a polished look thanks to Toby Oliver, who worked as the cinematographer on “Get Out,” and his stylish wide-angle shots. However, it becomes tedious as the storyline gets complex with unanswered questions about Amelia’s control and how to stop her. M3GAN is an intriguing character, displaying a dark sense of humor (“Grab onto your lady parts,” she tells Gemma and Cole while taking over a sports car), but her combination of endearment and danger has not yet reached its full capacity. If the series is to carry on, M3GAN needs to return to the lab for some adjustments.

Read More

2025-06-25 19:25