Who knew that when “Twilight” and “Hobbit” divided the final book into two, separate movies, that this would become a modern trend? Who knew that I would ever be placing those two franchises into the same sentence, either? Speaking of trends, has there ever been an author who has had more exposure and greater success with his novels being adapted into films than Stephen King?

It is really nothing new to see movies based on great or popular books. King has seen that type of conversion for some 40-odd years and he would probably admit that it has only helped his overall wealth, even when the films are not considered worthy of his material. When ‘It’ was released as a television miniseries, in 1990, the product was met with mixed reviews. Stephen King, himself, said that he had low expectations for the miniseries, but was surprised at how good it was. I would say that because his expectations were “in the basement,” he received a surprise, only because it was not as bad as he thought it would be. Regardless, thanks in large part to the portrayal of Pennywise, the evil creature for which the story is most famous (by legendary actor Tim Curry), the original “movie” has enjoyed cult status and might even be considered a positive installment to the legacy of King. However, times have changed, and with that, remakes are inevitable AND no film is immune to THAT trend, including those based on the works of Stephen King.

When “It” was released in 2017, expectations were very high and almost no one, in addition to the author, himself, was disappointed with the outcome. Bill Skarsgard, above all else, was praised, unanimously, for his great portrayal of Pennywise, which was no small task. Although the movie was not perfect, the “It” of 2017 was (and IS), rightfully so, considered an upgrade, compared to the “It” of 1990, but the story was just getting “warmed up,” so to speak. It ended with The Losers’ Club making a solemn promise, of sorts, which we all knew would have to be tested, at some point. In movie years, it took 27 years, but for us, living in reality, it took just two years.

From the start of “Chapter Two,” I could see that the pace would be more brisk, which makes sense, considering how lengthy this film would be, overall. There is a proper re-introduction of all the characters from The Losers’ Club. Much of it is unveiled in comedic fashion, which is something else you might notice, differently, compared to the original movie. Aside from Skarsgard’s reprisal as Pennywise, all the other characters have needfully been replaced with elder counterparts. I wonder if there are some interviews, pictures and/or posters which showcase all the actors and actresses together. Surely, yes, there are…

Jessica Chastain (“Dark Phoenix”) plays as Beverly Marsh, along with Sophia Lillis (“Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase”). James McAvoy (“Glass”) plays as Bill Denbrough, joined by Jaeden Martell (“The Book of Henry”). Jay Ryan, most notably-involved in Australian productions, plays as Ben Hanscom, along with Jeremy Ray Taylor (“Geostorm”). Bill Hader (“Toy Story 4”) plays as Richie Tozier, joined by Finn Wolfhard (“Dog Days”). Isaiah Mustafa, best-known for his appearances in Old Spice ads, plays as Mike Hanlon, along with Chosen Jacobs (‘Castle Rock’). James Ransone (“Captive State”) plays as Eddie Kaspbrak, joined by Jack Dylan Grazer (“Shazam!”) and Andy Bean (“Transformers: The Last Knight”) plays as Stanley Uris, along with Wyatt Oleff (“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”).

The younger counterparts are mainly seen during numerous flashback sequences. Numerous is almost an understatement. Although I thought there were some scenes in which the flashbacks were both effective and useful, I think many of them just prolonged the movie a lot more than we needed them to. I have typically viewed flashbacks as something of a novelty. With that, they should be treated as such and not as a normal part of the story. When the character of Pennywise is slowly being brought back into the story, the various, terrifying moments we see, which were not disclosed in the film from 2017, are largely well-executed. To me, that should have been all we really needed to have in the form of flashbacks.

Hader, as might have been expected, stole the show, routinely, as he is the actor with the greatest comedic chops. “Chapter Two” felt a lot more campy than the first installment. I thought that was a nice change of pace, by comparison. When we choose to sit down and watch both movies, back-to-back, we will have an experience which includes great variety and it will leave a lasting impression. This is not to say that “Chapter Two” is a better, overall film. In fact, from my perspective, it is NOT. Still, by then of the story, I was not disappointed.

What makes or break BOTH movies, just like the miniseries from almost three decades ago, is the portrayal of the titular character. He is “bigger and badder” than ever before, to the point of a comic super villain or an animated antagonist, but he is still the heart and should of the story and he is NOT wasted in this movie. I would even go so far as to say that the way he goes out is more powerful than the way he came in.

I recommend that you accept and enjoy “It Chapter Two” for what it is: an adequate and fun closure to a strong and long-withstanding piece of modern American folklore; hair-raising backstory and brilliant cameo included.

Director: Andy Muschietti
Screenwriter: Gary Dauberman
Basis: ‘It,’ by Stephen King
Starring: Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, Andy Bean and Bill Skarsgard
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release: August 26th, 2019 (Regency Village Theater) and September 6th, 2019 (United States)