A watchable mess, but just barely

Rating: 4/10 (11 September 2019)

Note that I wasn't a fan of the original theatrical "It" this is "Chapter 2" to, as the mix of shape-shifting Pennywise goofiness mixed with heavy drama just didn't set well with me, and I thought it ultimately failed both as a horror film and serious character study. Pennywise and his various forms just aren't that frightening to me, and some of the heavy drama is downright brutal compared to the shapeshifting silliness. It's jarring, and just doesn't work. This new chapter, without getting into spoilers, also manages to add a depressingly mixed, confused, and vague message to viewers about hate crimes that is truly queasymaking. Bill Hader is the standout for acting among the adults here, but the character he plays is also given a too-vague treatment. The subtlety means some (maybe even many) viewers will not even realize what his character's epiphany is as a person. I will say I wasn't bored watching it, even at almost 3 hours long, but I was put off by the lack of clarity and some of the more ridiculous, loud, silly monster moments. This film also veers wildly between extremes of heavy drama and some completely goofy monster and demon special effects and noise, just like the first, and, again, the combination just doesn't work.