Coming in at a massive 170 minutes, It Chapter Two is a good 35 minutes longer than Chapter One and at times the length can be felt but it isn’t the biggest issue for the second part of Stephen Kings classic novel.
The original King novel is a monster book with 1100-pages of horror. Adapting this book the correct way was always going to come with a long length that now combines the two films at well over 5 hours of killer clown horror. Andy Muschietti who is back directing wisely split these two parts up perfectly with Chapter One blending horror, comedy and all the best coming-of-age elements. It was as if someone took The Goonies and threw a killer clown at them in those caves. In Chapter Two we see Mushietti has been given more freedom from the studio which is a blessing and a curse. The blessing is this feels bigger than any horror movie you’ve seen. At times it feels like a comic book movie with big special effects. That brings us to curse which is the go big or go home approach of those special effects. Also much of the start is a little jumbled. It’s as if despite the length of the movie that Muschietti and writer Gary Dauberman, are trying to rush getting the “Losers Club” back together. It’s a little clumsy and awkward as we get the adult version of the Losers back together. Once the gang is together though the film seems to find its footing better. Part of the joy from Chapter One was the chemistry between the kids. This time around the chemistry is there but takes time building. When they all get back together for the first time it feels a little off but as the film moves along the chemistry falls into place.
Everyone in the cast is delivering though some of the characters feel like they are underutilized. Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy, the biggest names of the adult cast get very little to do. Though when they do they make the most of those moments but really the rest of the cast shines. James Ransone is funny and likable as the flustered Eddie, while Jay Ryan is fantastic as adult Ben who didn’t get much to do in the first film but Ryan shines in the more fleshed out version of his character. He gets a lot more to do this time around just like Isaiah Mustafa playing adult Mike. He is the only one who also never left Derry. The real breakout in this cast though is Bill Hader as Richie. He is fantastic with the smart-ass antics, but when he is tasked with handling some of the more serious emotional moments he excels.
The story is pretty straight forward. Evil resurfaces as Pennywise (Bill Skarsgard), has returned to terrorize the town of Derry once more twenty-seven years after the Losers Club defeated him. Bill (James McAvoy), Beverly (Jessica Chastain), Richie (Bill Hade), Mike (Isaiah Mustafa), Ben (James Ransone), and Stanley (Andy Bean) must now reunite as kids start going missing again to end this reign of terror once and for all. While most of this film is about the adult version we get plenty of flashbacks that fill in pieces of the first film.
It Chapter Two is that rare big budget horror film. It is at times clumsy but the fact is this second part understands its source material. It also understands what makes Stephen King who he is. Underneath all the big special effects and blood is people who are flawed, dealing with suppressed traumas, the friendships from our youth and the trajectory in life those bonds forge. This film is not as scary as the first one but is more violent with some moments that will shock audiences. It’s strong cast, lead by Hader’s MVP performance and loyalty with the source material provide a satisfying conclusion for this story despite it’s long run time.
3.5/5
