I remember watching the first film, Knives Out in the theatres. I actually wasn't planning on watching the film, but after my friend kept on asking I caved in and went. But boy, what a treat. I've come to expect getting disappointed by good trailers, especially one that feels a bit too Hollywooderized. But the film pleasantly surprised me in each and every way possible. And I've left the cinemas feeling pretty good about the film and what a good whodunit film it was.

Therefore, as soon as the news reached me that Rian Johnson will make Benoit Blanc make weird analogies again, I instantly was pumped and hyped. And seeing the ensemble cast (Edward Norton especially), makes me feel like there's a chance that I might experience the joy of the first film again. Sadly, it is not exactly the case here.

Now, I am not saying that the film is bad in any way. In fact, it actually makes perfect sense, especially with the title. It's so obvious and transparent that it's kinda funny now that I think about it. But I genuinely feel this film was a little too hyped for its own good. That the first film's success was the one contributing factor in forcing Rian Johnson to try and one-upped the previous film. It didn't, in my opinion. To me the film suffers exactly like Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes films. As in the sequel was shot using the "bigger, bolder" approach, which doesn't always translate well.

This film definitely feels like it upped its game, certainly from the setup, the stakes and the payoff. At least the CGI certainly makes it feel that way. But after checking all the facts (both of the films have the same budget), it made perfect sense. Considering this film has a smaller ensemble cast than the previous film, that's probably why they can utilize the budget on other things.

One of the good things about the film however is the plot pacing. The film starts off right off the bat without wasting too much time. I think the way they introduced the plot device and the characters are very good. It's quite fast for a film that went well over 2 hours. You will definitely not feel the duration of the film, as the film breezes past you. The film will capture your attention very easily hence you won't feel the urge to check on your phone all that much.

Overall, it is still a very enjoyable film. Good acting from a good cast, and the film is quite a blast to watch. It's just a bit of a shame that the film didn't really manage to recapture the essence of the first film. Which probably is impossible since I do consider that film a lightning in a bottle. I do recommend watching this film with another person or a group for maximum enjoyment. However, if there's another sequel coming, I'm hoping Rian Johnson will be able to write a better, more interesting murder mystery.