Review
M3GAN 2.0 (Sci-Fi, Action) (2025)
Director: Gerard Johnstone
Writer: Gerard Johnstone, Akela Cooper, James Wan
Stars: Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Amie Donald, Jenna Davis
Two years have passed since an AI companion doll named M3GAN went haywire on its family. Its creator has taken a path towards advocating stricter regulation of AI programs. However, as a secret military android turns rogue, the expertise of the mind behind M3GAN is required, and it's that doll that might be the only measure worth facing an expertly designed military android called AMELIA.
Following a positive reception to the original sci-fi horror feature "M3GAN" in a similar vein to "Annabelle" and the Chucky franchise, Johnstone, together with Cooper, came together with Wan to define a worthy sequel. Taking a departure from its initial roots, "M3GAN 2.0" provides more of an action-oriented adventure to reflect the audience's reception towards the murderous robot. It was produced by Blumhouse Productions and Atomic Monster while being distributed by Universal Pictures.
With the terrors of M3GAN (Amie Donald/Jenna Davis) in the past, life has become much more traditional for Gemma (Allison Williams) and her niece/adoptive daughter Cady (Violet McGraw). Settled with the former in a role as spokeswoman for AI regulation, being too familiar with the harm such technology is capable of. A national threat forms on foreign soil, as the military designed a high-tech android to perform dangerous missions at their beck and call. When their own killer robot turns rogue, there's only one option. Lo and behold, knowing the possible risks, M3GAN might be the only solution to countering this incursion and putting an end to the android named AMELIA.
Decidedly a variant of Johnstone's previous foray with an AI doll turned murderous, veering outside of Blumhouse's usual catalogue, "M3GAN 2.0" might prove a worthwhile departure, having delighted us with its zany attitude before.
Having familiarised the audience with the risks of unconfined AI in the presence of children, forming attachments to the detriment of human intention," M3GAN 2.0" furthers these theories on a more threatening scale. Instead of allowing these technologically advanced androids to care for our children, the U.S. government determined it was a stellar idea to weaponise such tools for covert military operations. Their creation, the Autonomous Military Engagement Logistics and Infiltration Android (AMELIA), played by Ivanna Sakhno, is meant to serve as a critique of excessive reliance on technology. It thus remains near-identical in concept, taking care of our most delicate things in life through robotic counterparts, yet a far cry in most other respects.
There's a conflict within "M3GAN 2.0", and it isn't the genre-bending. Both the success of its predecessor and the bravado of its makers turn "M3GAN 2.0" into a blockbuster with B-movie energy, in this case rightfully standing for Blumhouse. Retaining our loveable, quirky and scarily so companion doll as depicted before, and making room for Sakhno's serious, imposing female Terminator does click. Her appearance is more realistic, with CGI enhancements rather than their modus operandi with M3GAN, as seen through her different forms in this feature. Although its held-back and takes away more than it gives, that is primarily due to the sheer amount that happens on-screen, whether it's the shallow plot twists or fast-paced patched together action it becomes hard to wrap your head around, an abundance of easter eggs throw even more fuel on the fire at which point it's best to throw your hands up in the air and try to take it in without worrying too much if you're missing anything.
Instead of a true follow-up, the sensation is more-so a copy of a copy, as the original naturally based on many other murderous dolls within the horror genre. What I'd call blockbuster syndrome is a real thing as "' M3GAN 2.0" becomes truly absurd piling on convoluted aspects within the story and high-tech AI integrated world which becomes too much to keep the attention. Put simply, it stops being as much fun as the original losing the charm of originality.
Verdict
M3G4N might not be something I actually desire at this point.
6,0
