Monster Hunt 2 [Zhuo yao ji 2] ** (2018, Tony Chiu-Wai Leung, Baihe Bai, Boran Jing) – Movie Review

Director Raman Hui’s fantasy movie sequel is good natured enough and fun up to a point, with game performances and a good, costly looking production, with lovely and lavish art direction. But Monster Hunt 2 is way too slapstick and silly, and is struggling to fill the near two hour running time, throwing any gag or comic situation, however lame or irrelevant, they think they can get away with.

It just refuses to take any of the situations it sets up seriously, damaging any credibility as well as appeal. There are lots of ideas, scattered about willy nilly almost everywhere you look, but there is no proper plot to speak of. It lacks narrative drive and inspiration, though the actors partly paper over the cracks, with Boran Jing and Baihe Bai winning co-stars.

There is just far too much pointless, desperate and frantic falling about, falling over and running about. Unfortunately this is none too exiting and doesn’t get anywhere. Stand still for a moment, and entertain us, guys! And did we need so much CGI to form the climax? A more human scale, more audience friendly conclusion would be great.

Is it just me, or is the supposedly cute and loveable baby monster creature Wuba far, far too sickly sweet and actually quite annoying. And then there is Wuba’s loyal tubby monster assistant, the supposedly cute and loveable Ben-Ben, to contend with too. Aren’t monsters supposed to be scary? I guess not!

Anyhoo, Wuba’s off somewhere on his own quest, and his sweet-natured young human parents Tian (Boran Jing) and Lan (Baihe Bai) are pining for him, then searching for him, which brings them up against notorious gambler Tu Sigu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung), tough female boss Zhu Jinzhen (Yuchun Li) and veteran monster hunter Yun Qing (Tony Yo-ning Yang) and a Bureau of Monster Hunters.

In a wild Chinese New Year Detective Chinatown 2 crossed $300 million at the box office and eclipsed Monster Hunt 2, but then it is so much more fun, as well as slicker, smarter and more modern. At the same time, Monster Hunt 2 shattered single-day records on its opening Friday, with a total of about $269 million. Wow!

It is written by Alan Yuen, Chan Wing-sun and Su Liang, with Peter Cilella as the story consultant.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Movie Review

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