M3GAN (2023)

Sure, M3GAN has a plot that is predictable and rote, a script that throws logic to the wind, and (I would argue) isn't very well acted. But it's all fun so who cares? Seriously. M3GAN is camp and it knows what it is, delivers on that (while delivering perhaps on little else), and gives audiences just what it promises to. M3GAN isn't the sort of movie that usually does it for me, but I've got to give it credit that it does exactly what it's intended for and holds up on what's important; it's a fun watch. 

There are moments that made me think M3GAN might have more going on behind it's creepy eyes than meets the (creepy) eye, such as how in constructs a narrative about how when we aren't taught or modelled values we don't inherently have them. In this way M3GAN is a bit bleak and dystopian and shows some promise. But it mostly negates this with its ending which just didn't have the guts to go all the way with this theme, and moving forward with ending that the script doesn't earn. But again, M3GAN doesn't need to work on that level. It works solely as camp thriller and in that it is very entertaining. Would it have been a better movie it had explored some more interesting things in some tangible capacity? Certainly it would. Does that make it bad? Not at all. 

So when M3GAN starts running on her hands and feet evoking horror movie classics but in no way making sense to the plot, we just go with it cause it's cool. When M3GAN's owner turns on her without ever having shown any predilection to do such a thing we just go with it cause... well not sure it's cool but that's what happens in all these movies, right? I will hurt myself going on and on about all that isn't great about M3GAN or I just sit back, enjoy it's silly fun and get exactly what it is offering. In the end what's important about a film is how much we enjoy watching it. Sure movies that get deeper into themes that touch on our real experiences and have scripts that are written with clever character arcs and fascinating turns of phrases can offer a whole lot more. But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy a silly little movie now and then. 

M3GAN

Starring: Amie Donald, Jenna Davis, Alison Williams, Violet McGraw

Director: Gerard Johnstone

Writer: Akela Cooper