So it picks up 27 years later from the original. 6 best friends make a pact to come back to Derry NH if Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård) ever emerges...guess what???
Now this isn't a spoiler but I'm pissed off about it so I'm writing. In the OPENING scene a gay couple gets beat up and attacked. NONE of the guys get any judgment for their crimes, but the gay guys suffer...in the movie. In the book Stephen King made sure they did. Really? In this day and age REALLY!? Then there's an unexplained wink/nudge to Richie (Bill Hader) and Eddie's (Jason Ransone) friendship that feels a lil gay, but never explained or resolved or anything. And there's this weird "are they just friends" thing between Richie and Eddie.
James MacAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Jay Ryan, Isaiah Mustafa, and Andy Bean's butt are fabulous in the movie. All perfectly cast...yup Andy Bean from #Power loves showing off that perfect round peach of his. No complaints here hahaha But his role was significant and good.
Here are more problems which take away 1 point: A major problem THIS MOVIE IS ALMOST THREE HOURS LONG...and it feels it. I sighed and looked at my fake watch a few times. LOTS of "Run Pee" time. Another problem this movie doesn't follow the 1st film exactly. The basic premise is there but there's a MAJOR story development from the first in the second FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN SUPERFICIAL. I WANNA talk about it so bad but I promised no spoilers. Yet another problem is the uneven scenes. They spent TEN minutes on every other character but give Isaiah's Mike about 3 minutes of story. EVERYONE had major character development, but Mike didn't. So the writer marginalized gays and blacks AWESOME! That's right Gary Dauberman. I SEE YOU, BRUH!
Now having said all that if this was a stand alone movie (which is what I rationalized in my head to believe the gaping holes) it was 4 stars out of 5. NOW the biggest thing I want you to remember is the end is hokey...if you don't buy the story. The story of a killer clown that lures children to their death. THAT'S THE STORY! The killer clown doesn't know how to deal with adults even if the kids grow up. Sure he still KNOWS them as kids, but they aren't kids. Again just keep that in mind when you watch the ending and don't roll your eyes like I did at first. Buy into that theory.
Overall the movie is good. Worth seeing on the big screen. Creepy and gory AF not so much scary though. Bill Skarsgård deserves an Oscar nomination at the very least. If Tim Curry saw these films he'd be proud. OH and watch for a Stephen King cameo.