It: Chapter Two

Stephen King's novel It was so long it took two movies to make. The first film dealt with a group of middle school kids, outcasts who called themselves "The Losers Club" battling an evil entity that most often took the form of a clown called Pennywise. Chapter Two has the same group reuniting twenty-seven years later, as Pennywise is back.

It: Chapter Two was directed again by Andy Muschietti, and the trouble with the film is it's structure. While the book cut back and forth between the kids and adults, It: Chapter Two deals almost entirely with the adults, with a few flashbacks to the kids. So we get each character on their own, looking or an artifact from their past to perform a Native-American ritual to kill Pennywise. This episodic structure slows the momentum, as each character confronts Pennywise in some form. 

These scenes are okay as stand alones--Jessica Chastain visits her old apartment and an old lady invites her in for tea, but of course it's really It. This is repeated five more times, and stretches the length to an ungainly two and a half hours plus (watching on home video helps, as I can pause it). 

The cast is fine, particularly Bill Hader as Richie "Trashmouth" Tozier, who has become a stand-up comedian. He is the comic relief in the film, and also brings a poignant depth to the character as it seems he has a romantic interest in Eddie (James Ransone). 

The climax, with the Losers battling Pennywise in a dank cavern, just like the first chapter. This time they put away Pennywise for good, but it's kind of anti-climactic: they kill him by wounding his self-esteem. But I have to admit that Pennywise with the head of a clown on the body of a spider, is an excellent doubling down of common fears.

It: Chapter Two just doesn't have enough scares to make it worthwhile. I recommend reading the book.