The main reason why I really loved the first "Knives Out" is because it was a wondrous homage to classic and convoluted murder mysteries, and the genius oeuvre of Agatha Christie in particular. The only movie "Glass Onion" is bringing homage to is itself and its predecessor. I have rarely seen a film more pretentious and in love with itself than this one. I guess that's what happens if the world's most prominent streaming company - Netflix - offers a fortune to writer/director Rian Johnson to guarantee at least two more movies.

Confidence is okay, of course, IF the story and whodunit aspects are absolutely flawless. That's not the case, though. The plot and character drawings are weaker, the satire is less sharp, and the unexpected twists and denouements are less ingenious.

And yet, although overall weaker, "Glass Onion" remains a solid and well worth seeing mystery flick. The setting & characters are still reminiscent to the wonderful whodunits of yesteryears. Luxurious Greek islands, eccentric and rich people, dining rooms full of artworks, etc... All this still reminds me of Agatha Christie classics (like "Evil under the Sun" or "And then there were None") and "The Last of Sheila" is often mentioned as a source of inspiration, which was a splendid but sadly underrated mystery scripted by Stephen Sondheim (who makes a cameo) and Anthony Perkins. The cast and the performances are great, and some inventive touches in Johnson's screenplay are great. For example, how Benoit Blanc - being the super-detective that he is - ruins Miles Bron's meticulously prepared murder-game can only be described as truly genius.

Unfortunately, I found myself eye-rolling and head-shaking a couple of times over twists and plot details that are clichéd and obsolete in the universe of the murder-whodunits. The twin sibling taking over, for instance. Or even worse, a pivot character gets shot in the heart, but as by wonder survives because the bullet is stopped by an object kept close to the heart. Seriously, Rian Johnson? You still dare to write a banality like this in the script of a $40,000,000 movie? The over-the-top grotesque and destructive climax also didn't work for me, but I'll stop here before the review comes across as too negative and harsh.