"M3GAN" is a crowd pleaser - after seeing this in a packed auditorium (complete with young kids sneaking in and sitting in the empty seats that I bought exclusively so people would not sit next to me), the roll of the credits marked the sound of uproarious applause by the entire theatre. And to be quite honest, that was the last thing I expected when walking into a film about a killer doll; but who am I to judge the taste of today's viewing audience? That said, even after experiencing the sheer joy of an over 100 person standing ovation - for me - "M3GAN" fell short.
There is something novel about watching M3GAN (the character) interact with the world around her; from her surprisingly empathetic approach toward helping a young child overcome the loss of her parents to the way that she adapts to her environment to always say the right thing, do the right thing, and act in the most appropriate manner, is endlessly entertaining. Voiced by Jenna Davis, M3GAN is also a joy to listen to, and not just when she's talking. From "Titanium" to Sia, M3GAN randomly - and hilariously - covers the decades most beloved pop songs; even when she's not singing, though, Jenna adds an extremely expressive voice to her character, one that cuts through the creepy, uncanny-valley-esque face that M3GAN has, allowing the audience to truly begin to like and connect with the doll... at least before it begins to murder people.
Alas, though M3GAN at first seems like every child's dream toy, it slowly but surely begins its descent into calamity once it gets a taste for violence; so bloodthirsty is the doll, in fact, that not even dogs are safe from its wrath. Utilizing an impressive range of weapons from paper cutter guillotines to pressure washer devices, the toy expresses its desire for revenge in a multitude of ways - after all, variety is the spice of life. And since you're most likely coming into this movie to watch this adorable AI invention kill people, you'll certainly find some entertainment value in that regard. More brutal than I expected for a PG-13 film, the movie does have some mildly grotesque imagery here and there that certainly enhances the effect of the violence. However, the movie does remain light and humorous in tone throughout its running time, which I did like.
A dark comedy through and through, "M3GAN" is sure to instill dread in its audience while simultaneously making them cackle in laughter. There's something ominous about watching M3GAN slowly make her way down a claustrophobic, dimly lit hallway, but there's also something ridiculous about watching her dance in that same hallway before beginning her rampage. Similarly, it's disturbing to watch M3GAN stalk and hunt her victims, but it's comedic to watch her sing pop songs after the killing is through. Perfectly balancing both horror and comedy, "M3GAN" is sure to find multiple ways to entertain its audience.
Positives aside, I do feel as if this movie is lacking; more specifically, I feel as if it should've had one or two more surprises up its sleeve, as I found this movie to be completely predictable from beginning to end - the trailer does no favors in this regard, as it shows way too much, leaving very little to viewer imagination. Additionally, I thought that the movie teased multiple exciting set pieces or sequences that never really went anywhere. I won't spoil anything, but let's just say that the movie forgoes its seemingly promised bombastic conclusion for something more decidedly small in scale.
That said, I do think that "M3GAN" is a fun film. It's nothing groundbreaking, but I do think that most viewers will find a lot to enjoy here. My recommendation: Go into this slightly intoxicated and without thinking too hard about what you're about to see; watching "M3GAN" this way is sure to enhance your viewing experience and allow you to bask in this throwback, campy horror film.
There is something novel about watching M3GAN (the character) interact with the world around her; from her surprisingly empathetic approach toward helping a young child overcome the loss of her parents to the way that she adapts to her environment to always say the right thing, do the right thing, and act in the most appropriate manner, is endlessly entertaining. Voiced by Jenna Davis, M3GAN is also a joy to listen to, and not just when she's talking. From "Titanium" to Sia, M3GAN randomly - and hilariously - covers the decades most beloved pop songs; even when she's not singing, though, Jenna adds an extremely expressive voice to her character, one that cuts through the creepy, uncanny-valley-esque face that M3GAN has, allowing the audience to truly begin to like and connect with the doll... at least before it begins to murder people.
Alas, though M3GAN at first seems like every child's dream toy, it slowly but surely begins its descent into calamity once it gets a taste for violence; so bloodthirsty is the doll, in fact, that not even dogs are safe from its wrath. Utilizing an impressive range of weapons from paper cutter guillotines to pressure washer devices, the toy expresses its desire for revenge in a multitude of ways - after all, variety is the spice of life. And since you're most likely coming into this movie to watch this adorable AI invention kill people, you'll certainly find some entertainment value in that regard. More brutal than I expected for a PG-13 film, the movie does have some mildly grotesque imagery here and there that certainly enhances the effect of the violence. However, the movie does remain light and humorous in tone throughout its running time, which I did like.
A dark comedy through and through, "M3GAN" is sure to instill dread in its audience while simultaneously making them cackle in laughter. There's something ominous about watching M3GAN slowly make her way down a claustrophobic, dimly lit hallway, but there's also something ridiculous about watching her dance in that same hallway before beginning her rampage. Similarly, it's disturbing to watch M3GAN stalk and hunt her victims, but it's comedic to watch her sing pop songs after the killing is through. Perfectly balancing both horror and comedy, "M3GAN" is sure to find multiple ways to entertain its audience.
Positives aside, I do feel as if this movie is lacking; more specifically, I feel as if it should've had one or two more surprises up its sleeve, as I found this movie to be completely predictable from beginning to end - the trailer does no favors in this regard, as it shows way too much, leaving very little to viewer imagination. Additionally, I thought that the movie teased multiple exciting set pieces or sequences that never really went anywhere. I won't spoil anything, but let's just say that the movie forgoes its seemingly promised bombastic conclusion for something more decidedly small in scale.
That said, I do think that "M3GAN" is a fun film. It's nothing groundbreaking, but I do think that most viewers will find a lot to enjoy here. My recommendation: Go into this slightly intoxicated and without thinking too hard about what you're about to see; watching "M3GAN" this way is sure to enhance your viewing experience and allow you to bask in this throwback, campy horror film.