I presume most people who come to look at this will have seen the original Knives Out mystery first, so you should know the ingredients. The perceptive detective with a few personal flaws, the rather eccentric cast of characters with their own relationships with each other, the equally eccentric setting and roughly about halfway through, a flashback sequence turns the entire thing entirely on its head. What is a bit different is that, whereas last time there was one obvious "crime" very early on and heavily focused on, this time it's not exactly clear what the mystery is going to be until quite a lot of time has passed. Everything is just "generally mysterious" for a while but it does still manage to be fascinating.

The one thing that's very obviously different, very quickly, is that everything here is much bigger and more in-your-face. Previously it was about an inheritance; this time it's WORLD-CHANGING. Everything is heavily stylised, massively arty, each of the characters is heavily stereotyped for what they're supposed to be, the set is all hugely expensive looking. It's as if everything's been super-charged for the sequel.

Comparisons aside, for the most part, this is a hugely entertaining ride. It hooks you in and keeps you interested as it weaves about all over the place. As with the first one, it manages to be occasionally and (usually) subtly hilarious with some of the antics that happen and some of the dialogue. It's absolutely NOT a laugh a minute, just an occasional element thrown in that does work. Performances and dialogue overall are pretty on it. Also a couple of unexpected and cool cameos! Loved seeing Hugh Grant in that role.

Where I thought it went awry was the ending. Yes, it seems the aim was to supercharge it all, but the ending was just TOO ridiculous, too drawn-out, too silly. I honestly think you could have sliced off the last twenty minutes and stopped it without that tacked on ending. It just sent it south for me and.... didn't really ruin it as such, but meant that I came away with a worse impression of it than it really deserved.

Still recommended, it's very entertaining and good ride overall.