M3GAN was an unexpected box office success, captivating audiences as the best killer toy horror film since Child's Play. This unique blend of comedy and camp, featuring a meme-worthy android lead, set high expectations for its sequel. In M3GAN 2.0, writer/director Gerard Johnstone, along with co-writer Akela Cooper, draws inspiration from iconic films like Terminator 2, delivering a thrilling follow-up that ups the ante.
In this sequel, we are introduced to an even more sinister android named Amelia, played by Ivanna Sakhno, who has grand aspirations for AI domination. The only hope lies in the somewhat less malevolent M3GAN, who must confront this new threat. If the premise sounds delightfully absurd, that's intentional. M3GAN 2.0 fully embraces its campy nature, resulting in a film that is not just entertaining but also a bit of a parody.
This time around, M3GAN 2.0 shifts gears from horror to become a full-fledged action film. Audiences can expect an abundance of gunplay, hand-to-hand combat, and even a thrilling wingsuit infiltration sequence reminiscent of a Mission: Impossible film. Interestingly, the plot echoes the AI takeover storyline from The Final Reckoning, but does so with a more informed perspective. Rather than solely focusing on evil AI, the film delves into themes of AI autonomy, technology regulation, and ethics, featuring clever humor that only tech-savvy viewers will appreciate.
Once again, the story centers on Gemma (Allison Williams), the engineer who originally created M3GAN, and her niece Cady (Violet McGraw). Following the events of the first film, Gemma's brief stint in jail has transformed her into a technology critic. In a satirical twist, she collaborates with a tech ethicist (Aristotle Athari) to advocate for stronger technology regulation, particularly regarding AI. The emergence of Amelia puts her arguments to the test.
The film opens with a gripping scene where Amelia embarks on a covert mission to rescue a military scientist, only to defy her programming and kill him instead. As it turns out, Amelia is built on M3GAN's design and aims to eliminate everyone involved in her creation, leading her back to Gemma and Cady.
It's no surprise that M3GAN didn’t actually perish at the end of the first movie. She cleverly backed herself up to the cloud, keeping a watchful eye on Gemma and Cady through their smart home devices. After a chaotic encounter with inept FBI agents, M3GAN persuades Gemma of her need for a physical body to counter Amelia. Interestingly, her first new look is inspired by the now-defunct Moxie child companion robot. This wink at real-world tech adds another layer of humor to the film, especially given Moxie's unfortunate fate.
M3GAN ultimately receives a full upgrade, transforming into a stronger, faster version of herself, fitting for the talented young actress Amie Donald who portrays her. From this point, the film escalates into a high-octane action extravaganza as M3GAN infiltrates a tech lab to rescue Cady. Johnstone ensures the action scenes are dynamic and well-executed, with a nod to schlocky action cinema through numerous Steven Seagal references.
Johnstone's passion for technology shines through in M3GAN 2.0, featuring references to pioneering research labs like Xerox PARC, which contributed to the development of the graphical user interface. The film introduces an Elon Musk-like character, portrayed by Jemaine Clement, who embodies the excesses of tech culture. Additionally, it humorously critiques anti-tech crusaders who resist technological progress.
M3GAN 2.0 successfully balances a thoughtful examination of technology with the pure enjoyment of a summer blockbuster. Running close to two hours, it manages to keep the audience engaged without feeling drawn out, especially in contrast to the nearly three-hour The Final Reckoning. While both films address the looming threat of an AI apocalypse, M3GAN 2.0 does so with a light-hearted approach, making it a more enjoyable experience.
As we find ourselves on the brink of a possible tech apocalypse, M3GAN 2.0 provides a humorous lens through which to view our relationship with technology. Its unique blend of camp, action, and a smart critique of AI and tech ethics makes it a must-see for fans of the genre.
