M3GAN 2.0 Review (Film, 2025)
MEGAN 2.0 is unapologetically what it is based on the marketing for the film. You get what you pay for.
content warning: violence against women, violence against children, foul language, blood, gore, gun violence, alcohol use, medical footage
Many horror film franchises transition from horror to action after their initial installment. Series as diverse as Terminator, Phantasm, and Alien have all shifted from dark horror films to sci-fi/action films with horror elements in their second entries. Even Gremlins 2 shifts from horror/comedy to action/comedy, complete with Gizmo getting a Rambo costume when stalking the renegade Gremlins in the air vents. M3GAN 2.0 just does it while committing to camp like A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 or Leprechaun 2. The tonal shift might not work for everyone, but it opens up your favorite singing, dancing, murderous robot to a world far more befitting her special skills.
No, I did not expect M3GAN 2.0 to open with a covert military strike in Iran to rescue a kidnapped scientist and asset for the US military. Much like the car crash and commercial in M3GAN, this espionage/action sequence with dark comedic elements sets the tone for 2.0.
After almost causing the destruction of the world with the invention of her overly protective buddy robot toy, Gemma is now an advocate for the regulation of artificial intelligence in all aspects of daily life. She works in her home lab with Cole and Tess on robotic solutions to real world problems, such as an exoskeleton designed to reduce strain on the human body for manual tasks. Despite her skill and best efforts, every part of her life is falling apart. Adopted niece Cady has never forgiven her for destroying Megan, coworkers Cole and Tess are rightfully concerned that the business is not making money, and chief rival Alton Appleton seems intent on absorbing or destroying Gemma's company.
Oh, and in the middle of the night the FBI shows up to collect all of Gemma's assets because an even more deadly clone of M3GAN, named AMELIA (all caps because of course it is), is now a defected rogue agent killing anyone involved in the development of her technology. That old chestnut.
M3GAN 2.0 is silly and unpredictable in the best ways. This is a B-movie utterly unafraid to be a B-movie. From the over the top one liners to the obvious nods to the unprecedented popularity of the M3GAN teasers, writer/director Gerard Johnstone (with story idea co-written by original screenwriter Akela Cooper) has crafted a silly horror/action/comedy designed to put the absurdity of M3GAN's talents and hatred of Gemma front and center for two hours.
The fight sequences are great, though noticeably edited around to keep the franchise PG-13. Cady is now training in Judo under Gemma's encouragement, which adds a lot more depth and confidence to M3GAN's best friend forever. Cole and Tess also get more to do, turning M3GAN 2.0 into the kind of ensemble film the modern action genre thrives on. The cast of actors and stunt performers are more than up to the task, led by the 1-2 punch of Amie Donald's physical performance and Jenna Davis' voice acting as the titular killer robot. Ivanna Sakhno as the unblinking master of disguise AMELIA and Jermaine Clemont as tech billionaire Alton Appleton add great energy to an already stellar cast.
MEGAN 2.0 is a silly film for an audience that likes silly things. This is another case for "not all horror needs to be scary." Murderous AI-engines fighting to the death over a deep dark secret invention of the 1970s is camp, and MEGAN 2.0 is not afraid to treat it as such.
MEGAN 2.0 is currently playing in theaters.
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