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MOVIE REVIEW
'M3GAN' Is Thought Provoking And Amusing
By Sal LoCicero | January 12, 2023
January: “the first month of the year, in the northern hemisphere”. January can also be described as the worst month for movies. However 2023 is starting differently, with the release of its first movie titled ‘M3GAN’. The trailer gave off the impression that this was going to be yet another wasteful January feature. Marketed as a horror movie aimed for Gen Z audiences, but would most likely be forgotten about within a month. As shocking as it may be, that is not what this new year movie only has to offer.
After a tragic car accident, that resulted in the loss of her parents, Cady goes to live with her aunt Gemma, a robotics engineer at a toy company, but with nothing for Cady to do at the house, Gemma develops a life like doll named “M3GAN” to allow her niece to feel connected, but eventually, things slowly take a turn towards the worst once Gemma starts noticing the dangers that are evolving with the robotic doll in their life.
We have all seen stories like this before, each containing a similar message about A.I. and humans. The ‘Terminator’ franchise covered those themes, so did ‘Ex Machina’ & ‘Her’, but take out time travel, the war with the machines, and sexuality from those films, that is when you get a movie like ‘M3GAN’. The majority of this feature is not exactly made to scare you but instead warn you about A.I. The first act, in a bizarre - yet accurate - way depicts the connections between A.I and humans and how they grow within conversations, and through curiosity.
The concept of this life-like doll is impressive, but its execution is even better (since it all could have misfired). Writers James Wan (‘Saw’, ‘Malignant’), and Akela Cooper (‘Malignant’) do a great job at handling this story. The writing allows Cady’s obsession with M3GAN to come across as believable because of how the doll is portrayed, with movements and expressions that can trick the viewer into thinking that the A.I. is a human being.
Since this is produced by Jason Blum (‘Get Out’, ‘Halloween’), there is a horror/slasher storyline that gets thrown in here and it is an unnecessary aspect. At times it feels as if the director, producers, and writers all had creative differences, and instead of backing out of the project they were all incessant on having their own version of the story in the final cut. There are portions where this movie is a horror, comedy, thriller, drama, & mystery/suspense, and that is the reason why this feels somewhat unfocused.
However, with this being the first movie release of the new year, it is actually a pretty decent flick. ‘M3GAN’ is thought provoking, amusing, and mostly satisfying.
Grade: B
What are your thoughts?
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