Glass Onion A Knives Out Mystery (3/10)
by Tony Medley
139 minutes
PG-13
This is what I wrote about the original Knives
Out in 2019, “I hope
that this is just the first of a series of new films starring (Daniel)
Craig as Benoit Blanc.”
Well,
my hope was realized with the release of this. I can say after sitting
through this groaner that I hope that this is the last of the series of
films starring Craig as Benoit Blanc.
The
first one was full of twists “with a bewitching lightness carried by
Blanc and his soft southern accent,” and it had an interesting
mystery. This one lacks any twists whatsoever, Craig’s “bewitching
lightness” has vanished into inept stupor and for anyone who stays at
least half awake, there's not much mystery.
The
first one had an outstanding cast, including Chris Evans, Toni Collette,
Jamie Lee Curtis, Christopher Plummer, and Don Johnson. This one is
filled with what can only be called B-list actors, if that, and people
like has-beens Edward Norton and Kate Hudson. The others are unlikely to
be recognized. I’m sure that kept the budget down. It would be hard to
know how they could have spent more than the $40 million it took to make
the original. It certainly wasn’t on the script, cast or crew. Thrown in
are cameos by Ethan Hawke and Hugh Grant, neither of whom adds anything
to the movie.
It's
still written and directed by Rian Johnson, but he has apparently lost
whatever he had that produced the first one. Maybe he’s a one-trick
pony.
The
story lacks tension and reason. It is slow, even boring. The dialogue is
uninspiring. The denouement is ridiculous and unfulfilling. If Benoit
was the “world’s greatest detective” before this movie was released, now
he isn’t in the top 100. Hercule Poirot needn't worry
If
they decide to make another, include me out.
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