M3GAN 2.0 (2025)

M3GAN 2.0 (2025)

Yes, of course this film is going to be hated by a whole section of people. It’s not the people who thought the first one was rubbish who are going to enjoy this one. Most won’t even try to see it.

For my part, once again, I really enjoyed it. Even more than the first one. I knew perfectly well what I was going to see, what kind of film I was dealing with. And I got what I wanted: entertainment in a sci-fi action film.

Admittedly, M3gan isn’t a great film, it’s not a sci-fi masterpiece, but it does its job of providing entertainment. A film that once again talks about the dangers of AI in a way that may seem exaggerated, and it certainly is… but let’s not forget that AI is already being used to kill people. Not in the form of a doll, of course! But the army shouldn’t have too much trouble programming machines to go and wage war for them on the other side of the planet. And if you’re lazy, you don’t even have to answer YES or NO every time the machine asks whether the target should be executed or not: just programme it so that anyone resembling such and such a description is eliminated.

Yes, AI doesn’t just steal work from everyone, especially artists. For all I know, I won’t be writing my reviews for much longer if I get replaced too! But I won’t be able to make music, paintings or comedy videos either…
Anyway! This film doesn’t think that far ahead either, but it’s right on time. It’s not easy, these days, to make films at the right time with technology moving so fast.

Otherwise, I was totally taken with the humour, a lot of humour (much more than in the 1st film) and a second-degree attitude that makes you smile if you’re not laughing, with many artistic aspects in the style of 80s and 90s films. This sequel is a real blast from the past, putting aside the questionable fear of the first instalment to make way for a M3GAN franchise that is now less credible, but still cult and firmly rooted in our pop culture.

The surprise effect has worn off a little. This second opus is clearly less realistic, with a more science-fiction feel. While the first instalment was part of a well-known tradition in horror cinema, where evil materialises through the figure of an evil object – be it the haunted doll in Annabelle or the animated creature that is Chucky in Child’s Play, or Dead Silence (also a Blumhouse production) – this sequel seems to take note of the fact that the real terror today no longer resides solely in these evil domestic totems, but in the laboratories of algorithmic innovation.

I was pleasantly surprised by the first film, but this one takes things to a whole new level. Beneath the veneer, solid ethical reflections are currently shaking up the small world of AI research. The new M3GAN doesn’t just kill: it thinks, adapts and, above all, anticipates.

A great two-hour distraction. Unfortunately, it’s just too long! I enjoyed the first hour. The second hour goes on and on, with explanations that are a little too scientific. There are some far-fetched, good action scenes, some special effects that get a bit boring towards the end, as well as some big exaggerations, and a pretty cool ending.

Allison Williams (Gemma) is excellent. The actors are good, but Williams really shines. She was already great in the first one, as well as in films like Horizon Line (2020) and especially Get Out (2017).

Ivanna Sakhno, who plays the new M3GAN, is perfect in this role! This makes up for the fact that she was in the very bad Danger Zone (2020). This actress is also in the Star Wars series Ahsoka, alongside Rosario Dawson, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

As for the fabulous young Violet McGraw, she can be seen in the previous film, but also in Our Friend (2019) alongside Jason Segel, Dakota Johnson and Casey Affleck.

That’s it! I had a great time watching this film, and it’s great to see Megan back on form again!