Movie Review: IT Chapter Two (2019)

Quote from IT Chapter Two by Pennywise the Clown

“For 27 years, I’ve dreamt of you. I craved you. Oh I’ve missed you! Waiting for this very moment… TIME TO FLOAT!”

it2

Pennywise the Clown Returns

There are not major spoilers in this review!

IT Chapter Two is a drama, fantasy, and horror movie with a running time of two hours and 49 minutes. The MPAA rating is R for disturbing violent content and bloody images throughout, pervasive language, and some crude sexual material. The screenplay is written by Gary Dauberman and the movie is directed by Andy Muschietti. The characters of Bill Denbrough (Jaeden Liberher), Ben Hanscom (Jeremy Ray Taylor), Beverly Marsh (Sofia Lillis), Richie Tozier (Finn Wolfhand), Eddie Kaspbrak (Jack Dylan Grazer), Stanley Uris (Wyatt Oleff), and Mike Hanlon (Chosen Jacobs) are all grown up. As adults, the characters are played by James McAvoy (Bill), Jay Ryan (Ben), Jessica Chastain (Beverly), Bill Hader (Richie), James Ransone (Eddie), Andy Bean (Stanley), and Isaiah Mustafa (Mike). Teach Grant plays the older Henry Bowers and Bill Skarsgård reprises his role as Pennywise the Clown. There are a two notable guest appearances by Stephen King and Peter Bogdanovich in this Warner Brothers production. The movie is basically about the good versus bad in small town U.S.A.

Red Balloons Don’t Always Pop

It is now 2016 and twenty seven years later everyone has left Derry except one of the members of the Loser’s Club. As they find their way back to the little dinky town they grew up, each one remembers the power behind the clown from their past. They learn what each has done in their lives, mainly career and family status, although none of them have children of their own over dinner at a Chinese restaurant. They try to piece together the missing parts and accept the fact Pennywise has returned, stronger and meaner. When Mike and Bill are alone after the great fortune cookie scene, he confides in Bill what his plan is after meeting with other Derry locals. It means they each have to connect with something from their past and the audience gets a nice flashback sequence of their childhood clubhouse. There’s a glimpse of how cruel children can be, the target being Richie, and how it ties to the beginning scene. Bill is drawn to the town carnival and as he makes his way through the maze of mirrors, he is haunted by his past and sets in motion the plan to kill IT. The Loser’s Club arrive at the abandoned house where IT is often found. They encounter Pennywise in its many forms and would say it is much scarier when compared to the original TV mini-series. Each member comes face to face with their unresolved past and most notably Bill regarding himself and his younger brother Georgie as Pennywise continues to torment the Loser’s Club. The scenes leading up to the ending and the ending itself was overall well done. The movie ends with the members beginning the next part of their lives despite everything that happened.

Watch the IT Chapter Two Trailer

Evaluation of It Chapter Two

I preferred this over the first movie except for one scene at the end. I thought it was a little weak where I asked myself the following question. That is all it took? I’m sure children can be just as vocal as any adult. It begs the question of how powerful IT was to begin with but maybe over time it loses its power. Despite this flaw and lack of screen time for Pennywise, IT Chapter Two definitely kept my attention. The opening scene was an attention grabber and pulled you into the movie. I wanted more scenes similar to Pennywise in the bleachers. It was the best scene where Bill Skarsgård showed his ability to be playful and menacing. I jumped during one scene because I wasn’t expecting such a close up of the character. I would’ve liked more of those scenes and the humorous dialogue was neither here nor there. There was comic relief spread throughout the movie as well as some pretty dark moments. It had a nice mixture of both and for all the complaining I did about the head shaking of Pennywise in the first movie, it didn’t show up this time. If it was included, I’m sure I wouldn’t have been so bothered by it this time. Therefore, I recommend IT Chapter Two to anyone who likes horror movies including scary clowns.

Evaluation of Pennywise the Clown

Most people are loyal to the original actor playing a character and Tim Curry is no exception, but Bill Skarsgård’s portrayal was closer than I thought (for me at least). Both were able to pull off the fake vulnerability of a psychopathic clown and turn into the monster beneath all the makeup with a pop of a balloon. I did prefer the make up and wigs in the remakes as Curry’s clown costume was more outrageous and borderline gaudy. While Skarsgård’s clown costume was more subdued, there was no denying it belonged to someone damaged and how many red balloons can he really hold in one hand? It served as a great visual of him floating in the air. Skarsgård’s facial expressions, eye movement, and drooling pushed the craziness of Pennywise even further. If I had to pick which version I preferred when it came to appearance (costume, wig, body movements, and facial expressions), it would be the one done by Bill Skarsgård. If I had to pick which version I preferred when it came to voice, sounds, and laughter, it would be the one done by Tim Curry. If I were to rate the two next to each other, they are within millimeters of each other. The one part I thought was weak deflated his menacing nature somewhat, but I still wouldn’t want to meet IT day or night.