Barely Manages To Float

Rating: Null/10 (24 September 2019)

The best thing about It: Chapter One wasn't Pennywise but The Losers Club. It was their natural chemistry, strong dynamic, bonding & rapport that made us invest in the story. And then, the finely executed horror bits & wicked act from Bill SkarsgÃ¥rd uplifted the film further. It was funny, fresh & frightening, and paved a solid platform for It: Chapter Two which unfortunately is unable to deliver the smart, sophisticated & satisfying experience its predecessor offered in spades.
Directed by Andy Muschietti, the sequel follows Stephen King's novel more closely yet features an overlong & bloated premise whose runtime is strongly felt. The first act is interesting, plus The Loser Club reunion has the same vibe that their younger selves did. But once the board is set, things only head downhill as Muschietti loses his grasp on our attention, is unable to utilise the resources properly this time, and ends up delivering a rather inferior & underwhelming product.
Clocking at 169 mins, what makes the ride difficult is its inconsistent pace. Also, the horror aspects are dumbed down, for most of the scares fall flat or seem childish & silly in comparison to last entry. Add to that, the final showdown does not live up to the hype either. The only aspect that retains its sharpness is its humour, mainly coz of Bill Hader who, like his younger counterpart, impresses the most. Bill SkarsgÃ¥rd does all he can to portray the demented & fiendish side of Pennywise but it isn't enough this time.
On an overall scale, It: Chapter Two fails to make the most of the strong foundation of the first film, and is an occasionally thrilling & intermittently entertaining follow-up that never unlocks its full potential. Falling short in many things that its predecessor excelled at, it is a disappointing mess that lacks imagination in its scares, creativity in its approach & sincerity in its craftsmanship. Where Chapter One was brought to life with heart, passion & honesty which in turn made it soar, Chapter Two is simply dull, meandering & barely manages to float. What a shame!