Lamar Reviews - "M3gan" (Airdate 1/13/2023)

Lamar Reviews - "M3gan" (Airdate 1/13/2023)

It seems the director was determined for this not to be just another “Chucky”, but make no mistake since the Chucky franchise consists of 8 movies that made over $217 million dollars, He still wants to be in the arena. Because it’s 2023 M3gan goes the science route making this about technology, and artificial intelligence. M3gan stands for Model 3 Generative Android and it is a doll that interacts with a child. As M3gan spends more time with the child she learns how to become the child’s best friend.

We open up meeting 8-year-old Cady, played by Violet McGraw going on a trip with her parents. On the ride up, they have the same argument that a lot of parents have with their children, about screen time on her electronic device. This seems like some heavy-handed foreshadowing of the coming problem with technology. There is a crash and Cady is left with no parents. Her guardian turns out to be her aunt Gemma, played by Allision Williams. Gemma works for a huge toy company and her job is her life. She is not prepared to be a parent, or does she want to be, and this could not have happened at a worse time.

The company’s competitor has made an identical toy that interacts with kids, and they have made it cheaper. This is Gemma’s chance to reveal her secret project, M3gan. To get it up to speed to present she takes it home and let’s M3gan get to know Cady. It is awesome! Not only does M3gan play with Cady, she helps to teach her manners, and consoles her from the death of her parents. This is great for Gemma, she can just let M3gan raise Cady, while she works on presenting M3gan to the world.

As Megan gains knowledge she begins to run the show and cannot be controlled. She focuses on her prime directive, which is to protect Cady, and she takes that maybe a little too seriously. There is a fair amount of dark humor, and M3gan delivers one-liners every bit as good as a James Bond Villain.

The movie is 1 hour and 42 minutes, and it is rated PG-13. It was originally shot as Rated R, but after seeing online response they realized more teens were interested so they toned the gore down, but not the deaths. They are planning to release an unrated version with all the blood and brains later.

Let me say, if my first statement about the director trying to avoid being a Chucky movie might keep you from going, because you love some Chucky, do not despair! All the technology and blinking lights, and taking the high road of teaching a moral lesson eventually evolves into what everybody was thinking to start with. A crazy ass doll flipping out and going on a killing spree, with superhuman strength.

The entire concept is crazy. From a liability standpoint, the idea of making a doll that can think, talk, learn, feel emotion, that has the speed of a leopard, and the strength of a gorilla, and expecting parents to let it sleep with an 8-12-year-old kid, is nuts! What if the kid wets the bed and short circuits M3gan, and the doll rips the kid’s head off?

That being said, after you suspend some belief, the movie was entertaining, darkly funny, and fun to watch.

My Score: 4 Budweisers

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