Not going to lie, I’m kind of impressed with this odd sequel to 2022’s Smile. The initial film had a great marketing campaign that hid a lot of what was going on, only for the film itself to be decent but nothing that really blew me away. Bigger doesn’t always equal better but Parker Finn’s sequel is a huge step up from his debut flick. Smile 2 was a genuine surprise and a genuine delight.
For fans of Naomi Scott it damn well should be. The actress has had a bit of a rough run. She shone as the Pink Ranger in 2017’s Power Rangers but from there tried her hardest to hold up Guy Ritchie’s remake of Aladdin and add literally anything to the unfortunate 2019 Charlie’s Angels reboot (a great cast, a fun setup, and a devastatingly unimpressive execution). One of the bits of magic in Finn’s Smile 2 is that Scott is completely locked in, unwavering and nailing every tiny thing she’s asked to. It’s a blast to watch and honestly doesn’t work without her.
Scott stars as pop idol Skye Riley. She’s headed back on tour after some time off due to a car crash and some addiction problems. Her mother is overbearing, her fans can be a bit scary in their love for her, and everything hurts during choreography practice. Sure, a bit of Vicodin might be something no one will prescribe her after the incident, but luckily high school buddy Lewis (Lucas Gage) has made a life for himself as a high-profile drug dealer in NYC and he’s got her back. Shame that he bashes his face in with a weight plate, passing on the curse to Skye and sending her on a mind-bending odyssey that will challenge her addiction as well as her relationships.
This movie made me crave a VossTM water so badly.
While I enjoyed the first entry in the franchise I genuinely think we’re seeing massive improvement here. Pun intended because the film is, indeed, far larger and more impressive. There are excellent onstage choreography bits, wonderful images utilizing something so simple as a skyline and an upside down camera, and the lead actress chugging gallons of water onscreen. Each disparate element might fall apart on its own if given too much scrutiny but the myriad of ideas being thrown at the audience build a house of cards that miraculously doesn’t topple.
It’s insane that a movie this aggressively mean is raking in a strong, $23m opening weekend. Skye Riley is damaged, mildly toxic, relatable, and above all loveable. Scott’s haircut is insane and looks incredible on her, she’s got a personality that feels all-too-familiar to anyone with relatives that have addiction issues, and anyone with parental problems will join her in crumbling beneath the weight of her overbearing mother (Rosemarie DeWitt). These elements combine to create a believable person that is easy to enjoy onscreen and hard to watch as she suffers. And oh, does she suffer.
Nothing is completely real in Smile 2, with all moments of fear and joy and hope and devastation all being untrustworthy. Helps that Cristobal Tapia de Veer returns to score the second film, utilizing such unnerving sound that a viewer might also doubt what they’re seeing. It’s discomforting and hilarious and weird, all things that take Smile 2 above and beyond its predecessor.
Smile 2 is such a blast. Its mean-spirited energy might not sit well with everyone, but for me everything was firing on all cylinders. What a time at the movies, and what a finale. It’s shouting its messages and themes from the rooftops, unafraid to step on a soapbox, and I think for that it’s all the better.
Smile 2 is currently in theatres.
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