IT: Chapter 2 (2019)

27 years have passed since the Loser’s Club encountered Pennywise (Bill Skarsgard). Now that Pennywise has returned to Derry, the Loser’s Club reunites as adults now to finish Pennywise off for good.
Director: Andy Muschietti
Cast: Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, James Ranson, Bill Skarsgard.
MPAA Rating: R for disturbing violent content and bloody images throughout, pervasive language, and some crude sexual material.
Fun Fact: Seth Green who played Richie in the 1990 miniseries had expressed interest in playing the adult Richie in this version.
Stephen King adaptations have had there fair share of both good and bad. It really depends on who get’s their hands on the material and how big the budget is. It: Chapter 2 receives big studio backing with theater distribution just like the first part of the story. I reviewed the first part when it came out a few years ago and I enjoyed it. I thought it was well paced, funny, and had decent scares to it. Where does this film land?
Let’s just say It: Chapter 2 falls into purgatory.
For starters the length is way too long for a film like this. This film clocks in at three hours and it could of easily had forty minutes cut from it and it would’ve flowed nicely. The group gets to Derry in the first twenty minutes or so and most scenes drag on. When you think the climax is about to happen you will realize that you have about another twenty minutes or so to go. There are many scenes of exposition and dialogue to sit through that isn’t really needed and should have been cut for pacing reasons. The book is a thousand pages and it’s been years since I’ve read it but, you don’t need to cram everything into it. This is the perfect example of quantity doesn’t always equal quality.
Andy Muschietti made some weird directing choices for this one. While the first part had scary moments it also had it’s comedic moments as well. This one tries to be a serious horror flick but, the comedic moments outweigh the horror elements. The film as a whole isn’t very scary at all. There were a few scenes that were creepy but it didn’t have full on scares like most horror films should have. If they wanted to make a serious horror film then make it serious film and have a few lighter elements to ease any tension. Have loads of comedic elements and little horror makes the film fun like an early Sam Raimi film. Don’t get me wrong, I love fun horror films but, if you present your film as serious then make it serious. I’ve said that the first part of any IT film will always be the scarier when the characters are kids than adults due to being more afraid as a kid.
Bill Hader steals the show in this film. He goes full tilt with the material. He knows the script doesn’t call for a serious horror film so he uses his strengths to make Richie the best character in the film. Bill Skarsgard was also great as he was in the first film. He has a limited amount of screen time surprisingly but, he steals the show when he’s on. The other actors do just fine but, both Bill’s are the best part of the film.
Overall, IT: Chapter 2 is a mixed bag as it runs too long and there are questionable decisions for a horror film. While it’s more of a fun film, it tries way too hard to promote itself as a serious film that lacks the most important part of a horror film, and that’s the scares. Bill Hader and Bill Skarsgard steal the show and that would be the reason to watch the film.
Verdict: Middle Ground