Plot: What’s it about?
There’s a phrase that I use at least a couple times a week: “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing.” I don’t necessarily employ that in my everyday life, but when it comes to the entertainment industry, it seems rather appropriate. Given that TV and Movies are driven, surprise, by the almighty dollar it’s in the studio’s best interest to “give” audiences what they want. And when a movie, such as the predecessor to this one, turns quite a nice profit there’s no doubt that we’ll see a sequel (and most likely a trilogy). And, by and large, this is why sequels are rarely as good as the originals in that everything that worked in the first one must work again. Right? Sure, why not. Taking a page from Terminator 2: Judgment Day, we find M3GAN 2.0 (and, ironically, T2 is one of the few sequels that many consider better than the original) turning the antagonist from the original and making them the protagonist here. Is this the secret sauce for this film or just a reason to look at this creepy android for two more hours?
I won’t waste a lot of time regurgitating the plot as this one is, by and large, eerily similar to the first one. Hey, it worked once so logically it’ll work again, right? The AI technology developed by Gemma (Allison Williams) has been used to build a weapon by the name of Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno). She’s essentially gone rogue (do they go any other way?) and is leaving a trail of bodies behind. Gemma and her niece, Cady (Violet McGraw) appear to be next in line. But, as we know and as the aforementioned T2 reference might imply, the only way to bring down Amelia is by giving life to M3GAN once again. By doing this, Cady will be protected and hopefully this cuts through the myriad of obstacles that the filmmakers thought we needed this time around. You’re welcome.
Sequels, by and large, are required to do a few things, but namely they’re supposed to deliver what made the original so appealing. In this case, give us more of the android that talks and looks like a teenage girl. While I find that a bit creepy, I can’t deny that the first time around this did seem to do the trick. M3GAN managed to rake in nearly $200 million worldwide on a $12 million dollar budget. Movie studios like this. This sequel, with its budget doubled, managed to take in about 20% of that worldwide take. Should they have stopped while they were ahead or just spent more time developing a better script? Not that it matters now and, to the film’s credit, it is entertaining.
Video: How’s it look?
Like the original, there’s nothing artificial about the way M3GAN looks on 4K. Colors are bold and the entire spectrum is covered and with the added benefit of HDR, everything seems to “pop” a bit more. The interior of the house, office, etc. give a warm vibe that nearly looks like a Hallmark movie (I’m sure it was intentional) while the outdoor scenes retain that sun-soaked color palette. This changes later on, naturally, due to the film’s nature. The 2.39:1 HEVC 4K encode isn’t challenged in the least with the minor exception of a bit of blooming. It’s certainly indicative of what a new-to-the-format film should look like – it’s good-looking.
Audio: How’s it sound?
There’s a lot more action this time around and the included Dolby Atmos mix has a few moments to shine, but they’re relatively few and far between. Vocals (human and android alike) sound pure, crisp and natural. I found the surrounds kick in during a few scenes, namely in the third act, but it’s a front-heavy mix for the most part. There are a few jump scares to note, but it’s to be expected (and ignored). Like the video, it excels and serves the film well.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Unrated Version – If you’re clamoring for that extra minute “not seen in theaters” well, that wait is over!
- Total Upgrade: Making M3GAN 2.0 – Equipped with some killer upgrades, the team that unleashed M3GAN returns. Cast and crew take you through the artistry and craftsmanship that went into building a bigger, badder, and bloodier sequel.
- Droid DNA – Unveil M3GAN 2.0 as she prepares to tackle rogue military asset Amelia. Go behind the scenes and see the puppetry, technology, and animatronics that brought these deadly droids to life.
- The Art of Slaying – The cast and stunt team discuss creating and executing the film’s most explosive and gruesome action sequences. Special effects and prop teams go into the gory details that make up the guts of the film.
- Scene Breakdown: Embrace AI Convention – From a dance battle to a blood fest, this breakdown will show how each department worked together to create this epic and deadly sequence.
The Bottom Line
Like most sequels, this one simply didn’t seem to work for me. It has all the right elements and there are some entertaining moments here and there, but I found myself less entertained and looking at my watch a little more than I should have. On a technical level, the film looks and sounds amazing, so if you feel the need to add this one to your M3GAN 4K collection – there ya go.
