M3GAN 2.0 is messy but fun – it’s the type of film where you just turn your brain off for 2 hours and roll with it.
Plot Summary of M3GAN 2.0 (Spoiler-Free)
M3GAN 2.0 * picks up about a year after the first movie left off. Gemma (played again by Allison Williams) is trying to put her life back together after the whole “murderous doll I accidentally created” thing.
She’s now a famous author, raising her niece Cady (Violet McGraw), who’s not a sweet little girl anymore. She’s a 12-year-old with trauma, attitude, and a tendency to draw pictures of her robot friend like she’s memorializing a war hero.
Enter Christian, a new guy in their lives who seems like the perfect addition: handsome, thoughtful, and apparently not into AI, or so it seems. But we all know how that goes.
Meanwhile, a new android named Amelia is introduced into the world, supposedly built to help people and definitely not to kill them, oh no.
Eventually, Gemma and Cady get dragged into the chaos, and naturally, this leads to the resurrection of M3GAN, who now has to go head-to-head with this new, unhinged android.
M3GAN 2.0 Review: Is It Worth Watching?
Yes, as a free/cheap stream.
M3GAN 2.0 is a different kind of film from the original, one that leans much more into action and takes a different approach, and this works in some ways, but in others, not so much.
The film can be summed up with two words for me – stupid and fun. Emphasis on both “stupid” and “fun.” You get pretty much a full blown action-thriller with a homicidal robot doing parkour, but it actually works in parts.
It certainly loses some of the charm and surprise that made the first one decent, but it replaces it with high-octane absurdity and surprisingly clever commentary on tech obsession.
And this tonal shift isn’t going to be for everyone, that is for sure.
If you loved the creepy, offbeat horror tone of the original, this might be a letdown. But if you’re okay with your killer dolls being a little more Jason Statham and a little less Annabelle, you’ll probably have a good time.
But, it was certainly a bold choice, and while the first M3GAN was this weird little cocktail of horror, comedy, and social commentary, M3GAN 2.0 ditches most of that and decides, “You know what we need? Car chases, explosions, and a doll with ninja skills.”
And I’m not even too mad about it, because mostly, I kind of respect the fact they just fully committed and ran with it. This thing has the energy of a Fast & Furious movie directed by someone who just discovered ChatGPT.
And M3GAN is basically a snarky Terminator now, got to love that, and there are moments where she steals the show, even if her presence is less mysterious in this one.
The new AI, AMELIA, is interesting in theory but kind of forgettable in execution. She’s basically M3GAN 1.5, but meaner and with a more dramatic backstory, and I never really felt anything for her, which is a problem when the whole plot revolves around stopping her.
As for Gemma and Cady, I still like their dynamic, even if it’s a bit stale this time around. Cady is less of a victim and more of a sidekick, which is fine, I guess.
But the movie doesn’t really know what to do with her half the time though. and Gemma’s arc is more or less “Should I bring back the robot that tried to kill us?” followed by “Oops, I did.”
The action scenes aren’t too shabby either, for the most part. There are legit moments where I leaned forward in my seat, mostly because I couldn’t believe what I was watching. The visuals are better than they have any right to be, and some of the stunts are borderline ridiculous.
The humor is a mixed bag, much like the first installment, but I won’t lie, I laughed a more than a few times still. Some of the jokes are sharp, while others feel like a committee of TikTok writers wrote them after a night of Red Bulls and bad decisions.
But the biggest issue is that the movie tries to be too much, as it attempts to juggle a lot, and not all of it lands very well. And the ending drags and includes a twist that was so painfully obvious you will probably guess it within half an hour.
But still, despite its flaws, I had some fun. Maybe not “buy the Blu-ray” fun, but definitely “grab popcorn and turn your brain off for two hours” fun.
What I Liked (And What I Didn’t Like)
Pros
M3GAN’s Return
M3GAN is still the main attraction. Her sarcasm, her fight scenes, her weirdly expressive face, she still steals every scene she’s in.
Some Of The Action Sequences Are Surprisingly Good
I didn’t expect this to turn into John Wick: Doll Edition, but some of the fight choreography was honestly impressive. It’s over-the-top in the best way.
Strong Visuals and Design
From the lab settings to the chaotic chase scenes, the movie looks pretty polished. AMELIA has a sleek, creepy design, and M3GAN’s updated look is both funny and unsettling. The CGI actually holds up, too.
Still Funny (Mostly)
When the humor lands, it lands well. M3GAN still some delivers killer lines with deadpan brilliance.
Some Clever Commentary
There are bits that touch on tech addiction, corporate greed, and the dangers of unchecked innovation. It’s not deep, but it adds just enough to make the absurdity feel more grounded.
It’s Never Boring
Say what you will, but I was never bored. This movie moves fast, and throws everything at you.
Cons
Tone Is All Over the Place
This movie doesn’t know what it wants to be. It’s like a genre buffet, and not everything on the plate tastes good together.
AMELIA Feels Underdeveloped
She’s supposed to be this terrifying new threat, but she doesn’t have much personality beyond “kill everyone.” I wanted more nuance or at least something that made her memorable.
The Ending Is Too Long
There’s a point where the movie should have wrapped up, but it just keeps going, and going. And then adds a twist you will see from a mile off. Just stick the landing, people.
Less Horror, More Boom-Boom
I did miss some of the creepy tension from the first film. This one trades that for spectacle, and while it’s fun, it loses some of the original’s charm.
Cady’s Role Is Weak
Violet McGraw is great, but the script doesn’t give her much to do. She’s mostly just there to react and occasionally push the plot along.
Some Jokes Fall Flat
While there are funny moments, a few jokes feel like they were written by a robot trying to sound cool. If your joke sounds like it belongs on Twitter in 2019, maybe cut it.
Who might like M3GAN 2.0
Fans of over-the-top action flicks
Anyone who enjoys snarky dialogue
People who don’t take genre shifts too seriously
Fans of Chucky or Child’s Play but want less gore and more sass
Teens who think robots doing martial arts is peak cinema
Who might dislike M3GAN 2.0
Horror fans wanting scares
Anyone expecting the same tone as the original
People who hate CGI or stylized violence
If you’re allergic to one-liners and quips
Audiences tired of AI-run-amok stories
Folks who think sequels should feel necessary
Final Verdict: Did I Enjoy Watching M3GAN 2.0?
Yes, and also no.
M3GAN 2.0 is ridiculous, messy, and overstuffed, but it’s also quite sharp, funny, and way more entertaining at times than it had any right to be.
I think what helped was that I went in with low expectations, and I also knew the new direction the film was going in from reading about it, so I knew what to expect.
It’s a weird sequel though, and one that doesn’t try to copy the original beat-for-beat, and I respect that.
I’d give it a 6/10.
Not amazing, not awful, but somewhat entertaining, and if you liked the first one, go in knowing this is a different vibe and just roll with it.
M3GAN 2.0 Trailer
Simon Leasher
A lover of cinema for over 35 years, I try and look at the good and bad points of films while advising whether someone might like the film or not. More
Please help support my site by sprinkling a bit of internet magic. Bookmark it and pass it on to help me grow. Don’t enjoy the site? Feel free to share it with your enemies - I’m not picky.
Be First to Comment