Just got back from watching the film.
The film was underwhelming. I think I'll end up liking it much more once I see it a few times on tv. It's not as good as the first film, but I think it might have replay value down the line.
This film is what it must be like to watch Iron Maiden, The Rolling Stones, Guns N Roses or any of those old past their prime bands in 2024. It's just alright. Visually, it's a good-looking film, with a lot of nice practical effects. The afterlife scenes are the most interesting.
The film felt flat, uninspired even. My boy BJ, he's just not the same anymore. There are glimpses of the old energetic, Looney Tunes like BJ from 1988, but for the majority of the film, he just doesn't have that spark. The editing helps to give the illusion at times that he moves like a cartoon, coming in and out of frame. I don't think the writing was good, so that didn't help either. Having said that, I think this film could have used a bit more BJ. His scenes are mostly good.
I think the best way to put it, the first film does everything better. Even the climax, and the buildup to Lidia unleashing BJ at the end and the entire wedding sequence that follows was done much better in the original.
As for the rest of the cast, Jena Ortega is cute, and a good actress. She was good in the role, as someone who doesn't believe in ghosts.
Winona spent the whole film scared or surprised. She didn't feel like an older version of her original character, but they do mention it in the film, so that was on purpose it seems.
Catherine O'Hara felt like the same character from the first film, but she didn't have a lot to work with in the film.
Justin Theroux was pretty good in a role that I'm not sure it was necessary
Willem Dafoe and Monica Belluci are good as well, but their characters and subplots are completely unnecessary and add nothing to the plot, other than somewhat entertaining scenes.
One thing I'll give the movie, there are several subplots that could have been dramatic or "emotional", and they chose not to do that at all. Death in this film is not taken too seriously, so most of it is played for laughs or morbidly humorous.
6/10
