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The children from It: Chapter One are all grown up when Chapter Two begins with an eye-witness sighting of Pennywise (Bill SkarsgÃ¥rd) finishing off the victim of a hate crime after 27 years of hibernation. Mike (Isaiah Mustafa) summons the group back to Derry, Maine, where he and his friends in the “Losers’ Club” first vanquished the evil clown creature in the caverns beneath the Derry Lake. But fear gets the better of one of them early on. And they won’t be the only one to die in this wrap-up of Stephen King’s tale.
It: Chapter Two is best appreciated when seen immediately after the first chapter, with the characters still fresh in mind. The bond among the self-described ‘Losers Club’ is the heart of both chapters. Chapter Two is nearly three hours long, taking detours off the main story thread that maybe should have been edited out. There’s a protracted ‘hunting for artifacts’ sequence and some goofy native American magic thrown into the story that threaten to let the air out of the story’s sails. Thankfully, the screenplay is quick to wisely fall back on its characters and their relationships to carry the film over the goal line. There’s also plenty of scary set-pieces and an elaborate, well-executed final battle with Pennywise.
While all the characters are given their due, Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy have perhaps the meatiest roles. As Pennywise forces them to face their greatest fears, Chastain revisits her abusive past and McAvoy learns to forgive himself for not being there when his little brother was abducted. Saturday Night Live‘s Bill Hader gives a remarkable performance that’s as comedic as it is dramatic. He plays the older version of Finn Wolfhard’s character, a stand-up comedian afraid to let the world know he’s gay.
It is a story that has always been plagued by a questionable, less-than-satisfactory ending, both in book and movie form. But It: Chapter Two does a fine job resolve this tale, containing Pennywise’s seemingly infinite power and creating rules of engagement that feel believable. Chapters One and Two are long enough to become engrossing, making you feel like you’ve been on a 27-year journey with these characters. It’s an emotional epic about the power of friendship, a blend of horrific trauma and poignant nostalgia that is uniquely beguiling.
With Jay Ryan and James Ransone. Directed by Andy Muschietti (Mama, It: Chapter One).