M3GAN 2.0 (2025) Film Review: Action-oriented sequel is bogged down by bloated narrative
- reeltalkin'
- Jun 28
- 4 min read
The infamous creepy robot doll, which captured the world's attention, is back in her anticipated follow-up.
Set two years after the chaotic events of the first film, robotics engineer Gemma (Allison Williams) is forced to reconstruct her creation to take down an advanced military-grade weapon, Amelia, a robot built using the same technology that brought M3GAN to life. Gemma, niece, Cady (Violet McGraw), who is taken in by her aunt following the tragic death of her parents in the previous film, along with a couple of familiar faces, must work together to defeat Amelia and prevent an AI takeover.
Director Gerard Johnson and co-writers Akela Cooper and James Wan return to pen the sequel, which takes on a more action-oriented, sci-fi/espionage route, as opposed to the horror premise of the original movie. Both Jenna Davis and Amie Donald also reprise their role as the voice and physical body of M3GAN, with Ukraine-born Ivanna Sakhno playing the villainous Amelia.
Whilst the first film was by no means anything ground-breaking, it nevertheless made a significant impact in pop culture with the debut of the instantly iconic AI M3GAN, a sassy yet chilling doll-like prototype, designed to care for and protect its child companion, only to become a bit too engaged with its programming and embark on a murderous rampage in the neighborhood. The concept excelled with its charming simplicity, combining well-done horror elements with a tongue-in-cheek satire of the corporate world, and examining the increasingly relevant rise of our reliance on technology in today's society. It was a solid watch, which did not take itself too seriously; however, the same cannot be said for its less effective sequel.
The original movie capitalised on the creepy doll trope, which has become a popular selling point for horror fanatics; therefore, the sequel goes bigger and harder, with higher stakes and an overly ambitious screenplay. The results are muddled, with the movie relying too much on exposition and speedy pacing to distract viewers from the obvious plot contrivances and messy writing. There is simply way too much going on in the story, and the film often becomes confusing, wrapped up in technical jargon and multiple narrative threads, which are difficult to keep track of.
Although the movie does expand on the timely theme of AI, with the introduction of Amelia and the corruption of the US military and greedy business tycoons, it brings nothing new to current conversations regarding technology developments and feels like it borrowed elements from more superior movies, such as James Cameron's critically acclaimed Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991). Admittedly, there are some nice twists in the narrative which offer a welcome change of pace and keep the audience engaged, but the film jumps from one set piece to another with enough promptness to give you whiplash and crams in everything it can.
There is greater emphasis on humour this time around, and the results are a bit of a mixed bag, depending on your subjective taste in comedy. The tone is undeniably silly and bombastic, with M3GAN at her very best, engaging in witty, scathing comebacks (mostly aimed at her creator) and deadpan line delivery. The film is very self-aware regarding its dark humour; however, many moments fall flat due to cringingly forced dialogue that comes across as more juvenile than intelligent.
The film could have benefited from more of a focus on the human aspect with Gemma and Cady and their complicated relationship with M3GAN, which is explored to some extent in the final product, but is not given sufficient time to naturally develop because of all the other plot elements that need wrapping up.
The performances are serviceable for each of the respective roles as there is not enough screen time to give every player room to shine, however, McGraw as Cady is demonstrating her rising presence in Hollywood, as her character is given more agency, showcasing a growing maturity and capability to handle the complexities of this follow up. In all honesty, Cady is probably given a little too much responsibility, as she appears to be a child prodigy with her unbelievable tech know-how and wisdom, which regularly rivals her adult co-stars, despite only being a twelve-year-old girl.
Even taking into account the existence of an admittedly clumsy sequel, a third installment to the franchise appears likely to soon be in the works, judging by an open-ended climax which leaves the door open for new ideas regarding M3GAN's return. If you can get on board regarding the film's formulaic qualities and uneven tone, you may have a good time with this one. The franchise's central mascot still maintains a fun, sharp edge, and there is narrative potential for follow-ups; however, this entry could have made more of an impact with greater focus and a tighter screenplay.
Check out the trailer for M3GAN 2.0 (2025) below, and please let me know your thoughts in the comments!
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