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The Advertiser
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
M3GAN 2.0 is less fun, a sequel that's preachy instead of campy
M3GAN 2.0 M, 120 minutes 2 stars At first, I thought I had wandered into the wrong cinema. This movie begins like a political thriller involving the US in the Middle East (no doubt a coincidence but all too timely). I was discombobulated for a moment, but then there was an outburst of violence and mayhem from a killer android in a female body and my equilibrium was restored. M3GAN (2022) was a fun if unremarkable sci-fi/horror movie in which the title robot - a companion and protector for a young girl - went way beyond her programming and turned into a killer. She was finally stopped, but the low-budget movie was a big box office hit so a sequel was assured and, to their credit, the filmmakers don't simply do a rehash. But the new film is far from a total success. Excessive length - it's almost 20 minutes longer than the first movie - is just one of the problems. Unlike the first film, which knew it was somewhat silly - M3GAN was reminiscent of Chucky from the Child's Play movies - this has a fair bit of lecturing, and it ain't subtle. At the start of M3GAN 2.0 - set two years after its predecessor - it's not M3GAN herself who's on the rampage. It's AMELIA (an acronym for Autonomous Military Engagement Logistics and Infiltration Android) who looks like an adult woman (played by Ivanna Sakhno). She is the product of a secret, dodgy program using the same technology as M3GAN but - this will sound familiar - has become self-aware and decided to do what she wants, when she wants. And her ambitions make M3GAN look like an underachiever. Meanwhile, M3GAN's creator Gemma (Allison Williams) has become an author and fierce advocate for regulating artificial intelligence. Gemma's relationship with her niece Cady (Violet McGraw) is still strained - quite apart from the traumatising events from before, the kid is an orphan who feels a bit neglected (and, of course, she's a moody teenager regardless). M3GAN is kept safely in a harmless little robot body, but when AMELIA's increasing control over computer systems and other technology gets out, it becomes clear Gemma will need to rebuild and upgrade M3GAN in order to take on the new threat. M3GAN (voiced by Jenna Davis) requests a taller body, a clever way to incorporate teen actress Amie Donald's growth spurt since the first film. But given what happened last time, can M3GAn be trusted? Director Gerard Johnstone - who scripted from a story he concocted with the first film's writer, Akela Cooper - keeps the pacing in the early part of the film crisp, but things slacken markedly as the film goes on, with lots of characters and story turns to follow. One new character is a billionaire jerk named Christian (Aristotle Athari) who might, possibly, be modelled on Elon Musk. Just a little bit. There's lots of tech talk and also copious discussion on the ethics of AI. It seems like we're intended to take the philosophical aspects seriously, but this really isn't the platform. Not that the ideas aren't worthwhile - especially when, in the real world, AI keeps getting pushed forward - but the handling didn't need to be so blatant. And this material sits uneasily beside the expected campier elements, such as M3GAN's foul-mouthed snark and the Knight Rider theme coming in out of nowhere (Tellytubbies, Knight Rider - are these references still current for younger viewers?) The second Terminator movie seems to be a big inspiration and, in a running joke, Steven Seagal and his movies keep coming up. In this instalment, M3GAN and AMELIA engage in martial arts fights. Well, it's different. It's just not great. Still, it's not a bad showcase for some New Zealand talent (it was filmed there) and some effects work was done in Australia. So not all technology is bad. M3GAN 2.0 M, 120 minutes 2 stars At first, I thought I had wandered into the wrong cinema. This movie begins like a political thriller involving the US in the Middle East (no doubt a coincidence but all too timely). I was discombobulated for a moment, but then there was an outburst of violence and mayhem from a killer android in a female body and my equilibrium was restored. M3GAN (2022) was a fun if unremarkable sci-fi/horror movie in which the title robot - a companion and protector for a young girl - went way beyond her programming and turned into a killer. She was finally stopped, but the low-budget movie was a big box office hit so a sequel was assured and, to their credit, the filmmakers don't simply do a rehash. But the new film is far from a total success. Excessive length - it's almost 20 minutes longer than the first movie - is just one of the problems. Unlike the first film, which knew it was somewhat silly - M3GAN was reminiscent of Chucky from the Child's Play movies - this has a fair bit of lecturing, and it ain't subtle. At the start of M3GAN 2.0 - set two years after its predecessor - it's not M3GAN herself who's on the rampage. It's AMELIA (an acronym for Autonomous Military Engagement Logistics and Infiltration Android) who looks like an adult woman (played by Ivanna Sakhno). She is the product of a secret, dodgy program using the same technology as M3GAN but - this will sound familiar - has become self-aware and decided to do what she wants, when she wants. And her ambitions make M3GAN look like an underachiever. Meanwhile, M3GAN's creator Gemma (Allison Williams) has become an author and fierce advocate for regulating artificial intelligence. Gemma's relationship with her niece Cady (Violet McGraw) is still strained - quite apart from the traumatising events from before, the kid is an orphan who feels a bit neglected (and, of course, she's a moody teenager regardless). M3GAN is kept safely in a harmless little robot body, but when AMELIA's increasing control over computer systems and other technology gets out, it becomes clear Gemma will need to rebuild and upgrade M3GAN in order to take on the new threat. M3GAN (voiced by Jenna Davis) requests a taller body, a clever way to incorporate teen actress Amie Donald's growth spurt since the first film. But given what happened last time, can M3GAn be trusted? Director Gerard Johnstone - who scripted from a story he concocted with the first film's writer, Akela Cooper - keeps the pacing in the early part of the film crisp, but things slacken markedly as the film goes on, with lots of characters and story turns to follow. One new character is a billionaire jerk named Christian (Aristotle Athari) who might, possibly, be modelled on Elon Musk. Just a little bit. There's lots of tech talk and also copious discussion on the ethics of AI. It seems like we're intended to take the philosophical aspects seriously, but this really isn't the platform. Not that the ideas aren't worthwhile - especially when, in the real world, AI keeps getting pushed forward - but the handling didn't need to be so blatant. And this material sits uneasily beside the expected campier elements, such as M3GAN's foul-mouthed snark and the Knight Rider theme coming in out of nowhere (Tellytubbies, Knight Rider - are these references still current for younger viewers?) The second Terminator movie seems to be a big inspiration and, in a running joke, Steven Seagal and his movies keep coming up. In this instalment, M3GAN and AMELIA engage in martial arts fights. Well, it's different. It's just not great. Still, it's not a bad showcase for some New Zealand talent (it was filmed there) and some effects work was done in Australia. So not all technology is bad. M3GAN 2.0 M, 120 minutes 2 stars At first, I thought I had wandered into the wrong cinema. This movie begins like a political thriller involving the US in the Middle East (no doubt a coincidence but all too timely). I was discombobulated for a moment, but then there was an outburst of violence and mayhem from a killer android in a female body and my equilibrium was restored. M3GAN (2022) was a fun if unremarkable sci-fi/horror movie in which the title robot - a companion and protector for a young girl - went way beyond her programming and turned into a killer. She was finally stopped, but the low-budget movie was a big box office hit so a sequel was assured and, to their credit, the filmmakers don't simply do a rehash. But the new film is far from a total success. Excessive length - it's almost 20 minutes longer than the first movie - is just one of the problems. Unlike the first film, which knew it was somewhat silly - M3GAN was reminiscent of Chucky from the Child's Play movies - this has a fair bit of lecturing, and it ain't subtle. At the start of M3GAN 2.0 - set two years after its predecessor - it's not M3GAN herself who's on the rampage. It's AMELIA (an acronym for Autonomous Military Engagement Logistics and Infiltration Android) who looks like an adult woman (played by Ivanna Sakhno). She is the product of a secret, dodgy program using the same technology as M3GAN but - this will sound familiar - has become self-aware and decided to do what she wants, when she wants. And her ambitions make M3GAN look like an underachiever. Meanwhile, M3GAN's creator Gemma (Allison Williams) has become an author and fierce advocate for regulating artificial intelligence. Gemma's relationship with her niece Cady (Violet McGraw) is still strained - quite apart from the traumatising events from before, the kid is an orphan who feels a bit neglected (and, of course, she's a moody teenager regardless). M3GAN is kept safely in a harmless little robot body, but when AMELIA's increasing control over computer systems and other technology gets out, it becomes clear Gemma will need to rebuild and upgrade M3GAN in order to take on the new threat. M3GAN (voiced by Jenna Davis) requests a taller body, a clever way to incorporate teen actress Amie Donald's growth spurt since the first film. But given what happened last time, can M3GAn be trusted? Director Gerard Johnstone - who scripted from a story he concocted with the first film's writer, Akela Cooper - keeps the pacing in the early part of the film crisp, but things slacken markedly as the film goes on, with lots of characters and story turns to follow. One new character is a billionaire jerk named Christian (Aristotle Athari) who might, possibly, be modelled on Elon Musk. Just a little bit. There's lots of tech talk and also copious discussion on the ethics of AI. It seems like we're intended to take the philosophical aspects seriously, but this really isn't the platform. Not that the ideas aren't worthwhile - especially when, in the real world, AI keeps getting pushed forward - but the handling didn't need to be so blatant. And this material sits uneasily beside the expected campier elements, such as M3GAN's foul-mouthed snark and the Knight Rider theme coming in out of nowhere (Tellytubbies, Knight Rider - are these references still current for younger viewers?) The second Terminator movie seems to be a big inspiration and, in a running joke, Steven Seagal and his movies keep coming up. In this instalment, M3GAN and AMELIA engage in martial arts fights. Well, it's different. It's just not great. Still, it's not a bad showcase for some New Zealand talent (it was filmed there) and some effects work was done in Australia. So not all technology is bad. M3GAN 2.0 M, 120 minutes 2 stars At first, I thought I had wandered into the wrong cinema. This movie begins like a political thriller involving the US in the Middle East (no doubt a coincidence but all too timely). I was discombobulated for a moment, but then there was an outburst of violence and mayhem from a killer android in a female body and my equilibrium was restored. M3GAN (2022) was a fun if unremarkable sci-fi/horror movie in which the title robot - a companion and protector for a young girl - went way beyond her programming and turned into a killer. She was finally stopped, but the low-budget movie was a big box office hit so a sequel was assured and, to their credit, the filmmakers don't simply do a rehash. But the new film is far from a total success. Excessive length - it's almost 20 minutes longer than the first movie - is just one of the problems. Unlike the first film, which knew it was somewhat silly - M3GAN was reminiscent of Chucky from the Child's Play movies - this has a fair bit of lecturing, and it ain't subtle. At the start of M3GAN 2.0 - set two years after its predecessor - it's not M3GAN herself who's on the rampage. It's AMELIA (an acronym for Autonomous Military Engagement Logistics and Infiltration Android) who looks like an adult woman (played by Ivanna Sakhno). She is the product of a secret, dodgy program using the same technology as M3GAN but - this will sound familiar - has become self-aware and decided to do what she wants, when she wants. And her ambitions make M3GAN look like an underachiever. Meanwhile, M3GAN's creator Gemma (Allison Williams) has become an author and fierce advocate for regulating artificial intelligence. Gemma's relationship with her niece Cady (Violet McGraw) is still strained - quite apart from the traumatising events from before, the kid is an orphan who feels a bit neglected (and, of course, she's a moody teenager regardless). M3GAN is kept safely in a harmless little robot body, but when AMELIA's increasing control over computer systems and other technology gets out, it becomes clear Gemma will need to rebuild and upgrade M3GAN in order to take on the new threat. M3GAN (voiced by Jenna Davis) requests a taller body, a clever way to incorporate teen actress Amie Donald's growth spurt since the first film. But given what happened last time, can M3GAn be trusted? Director Gerard Johnstone - who scripted from a story he concocted with the first film's writer, Akela Cooper - keeps the pacing in the early part of the film crisp, but things slacken markedly as the film goes on, with lots of characters and story turns to follow. One new character is a billionaire jerk named Christian (Aristotle Athari) who might, possibly, be modelled on Elon Musk. Just a little bit. There's lots of tech talk and also copious discussion on the ethics of AI. It seems like we're intended to take the philosophical aspects seriously, but this really isn't the platform. Not that the ideas aren't worthwhile - especially when, in the real world, AI keeps getting pushed forward - but the handling didn't need to be so blatant. And this material sits uneasily beside the expected campier elements, such as M3GAN's foul-mouthed snark and the Knight Rider theme coming in out of nowhere (Tellytubbies, Knight Rider - are these references still current for younger viewers?) The second Terminator movie seems to be a big inspiration and, in a running joke, Steven Seagal and his movies keep coming up. In this instalment, M3GAN and AMELIA engage in martial arts fights. Well, it's different. It's just not great. Still, it's not a bad showcase for some New Zealand talent (it was filmed there) and some effects work was done in Australia. So not all technology is bad.
Engadget
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Engadget
M3GAN 2.0 review: The AI camp queen pulls a Terminator 2
M3GAN was an unexpected hit, and for good reason: It was the best killer toy horror film since Child's Play , combining comedy and camp with a meme-worthy android lead. For the sequel, writer/director Gerard Johnstone (working off a story from him and the first film's writer Akela Cooper), have taken a few notes from Terminator 2. This time around, there's an even more evil android on the scene (Amelia, played by Ivanna Sakhno) who wants AI to rule the world. And there's only one somewhat less evil android that can stop her: M3GAN. If that setup sounds silly and campy to you, well... it is. That's the point. More so than the first film, M3GAN 2.0 leans into the sheer silliness of its premise and is all the more fun for it. It's also not really a horror movie this time, it's a full-on action film with tons of gunplay, hand-to-hand combat and one wingsuit infiltration sequence that would be right at home in a Mission: Impossible film. Universal Pictures Speaking of Mission: Impossible , it's hard not to notice that M3GAN 2.0 features practically the same AI takeover plotline that bogged down The Final Reckoning . The difference here is that it's actually somewhat well-informed — M3GAN 2.0 isn't just about "evil AI," it also explores (however briefly) the notion of AI autonomy, technology regulation and ethics. (For God sakes, there's a killer Section 230 joke that only tech-savvy readers would understand.) M3GAN 2.0 once again centers on Gemma (Allison Williams), the engineer who originally created M3GAN, and her niece Cady (Violet McGraw). Following the events of the first film, Gemma was briefly sent to jail but reemerges as a technology critic. (Isn't it funny how many "tech critics" pop up after making bank from Big Tech?) She then teams up with a tech ethicist (Aristotle Athari) to push governments for stronger technology regulation, especially when it comes to AI. The existence of Amelia seems to prove her point. In the opening of M3GAN 2.0 , we watch as she goes on a covert mission to rescue a military scientist, only to disobey her programming and kill him instead. It turns out Amelia was built on the bones of M3GAN's design, and for some reason she's aiming to kill everyone involved with her creation. That mission inevitably leads back to Gemma and Cady, of course. Universal Pictures It's not a spoiler to say that M3GAN didn't really die at the end of the first movie. Turns out, she backed herself up to the cloud and has been watching Gemma and Cady via their smart home devices. After a set piece involving inept FBI agents, M3GAN convinces Gemma that she needs some sort of physical body to stop Amelia. Funnily enough, her first new outfit is the not at all fictional Moxie child companion robot I tested a few years ago. (Embodied, the startup behind Moxie, folded last year, leaving its handful of customers with a dead robot. That may be why Moxie M3GAN is allowed to swear.) M3GAN gets her wish and, like the Six Million Dollar Man , receives a fully upgraded body, one that's better, faster and stronger. (And also one that's more befitting of Amie Donald, the talented young actress who plays her.) And at that point, the movie turns into a full-on action fest as M3GAN infiltrates a tech lab to save Cady. Thankfully, MEGAN 2.0 understands the assignment: Fight scenes are energetic and well-choreographed, and Johnstone makes sure that everything is easily legible. The multitude of Steven Seagal references also makes it clear he's a fan of schlocky action cinema. Universal Pictures Johnstone is also clearly a tech nerd: the film is filled with references to places like Xerox PARC, one of the early R&D labs that developed concepts like the GUI (graphical user interface) and mouse. There's an Elon Musk analog, played by the great Jemaine Clement, who has an over-inflated ego and an obsession with brain interface devices. And the film pokes fun at anti-tech crusaders, who sometimes push back against any sort of technological advancement as inherently evil. M3GAN 2.0 balances a smart view of tech alongside sheer summer movie fun. And while it runs close to two hours, it never feels like a slog like the nearly three-hour long The Final Reckoning . Both movies are about the impending doom of an AI apocalypse, but M3GAN 2.0 manages to do it without being too self-serious and far more well-informed. Now that it seems like we're just a few clicks away from some sort of tech apocalypse, poking fun at it just seems like a better way to cope.
Global News
19-06-2025
- Global News
Woman with doll phobia sues boss after prank allegedly left her with PTSD
A former Truist Bank employee has filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming her manager thought it was Child's Play to prank her by placing a Chucky doll on her chair during training. Debra Jones alleges the prank caused her to suffer a severe panic attack and claims she needed weeks of medical leave after the stunt featuring the Chucky doll, known from the Child's Play horror movie franchise. Jones accused the manager, identified as Matthew Korr, of deliberately traumatizing her and alleged she was discriminated against because of her medical conditions, which include 'major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and autoimmune disorder vitiligo,' according to court documents obtained by People. She said her employer knew she had those medical conditions and that the incident took place in June 2024, during her last week of new hire training. Story continues below advertisement Jones said she told her manager that she had a crippling fear of dolls so he threw her into full panic mode when he placed 'the doll that kills people, in Plaintiff's office chair.' According to the lawsuit filed in Nash County, Jones said her manager's actions interfered with her training and worsened her medical condition. She added that the manager laughed when he saw her reaction to seeing the doll on her chair. Jones was treated by a medical provider on the same day as the prank and placed on medical leave for eight weeks after receiving a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to the court documents. 3:35 'It's just good, stupid fun:' 'Chucky' actor Jennifer Tilly talks about new TV series When Jones returned to work in August 2024, she said she was assigned a new manager and claimed that there were continuous problems with her, including an incident when the manager made a joke in front of her and other team members about her being 'always fraudulent vigilant' after Jones discovered a fraudulent cheque. Story continues below advertisement Jones said she found the joke to be offensive and argued in the complaint that she was treated differently from other team members when she made mistakes and alleged that the treatment was based on her disabilities. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The complaint noted another incident in January 2025 when another Truist manager allegedly told Jones that her accommodation of leaving work at 3 p.m. three times a week for treatment of her autoimmune disorder was affecting other employees who needed time off. The manager allegedly told Jones that the job might not be a good fit for her and that she can't keep using her 'emotional and anxiety problems as an excuse.' The complaint alleges that the manager hinted that Jones would be fired if she didn't improve. Jones alleged that she experienced panic attacks after the meeting with the manager and was taken out of work for treatment of her disabilities. In March, Jones claims that her employer notified her to pick up her personal belongings at the office. Jones is suing Truist Bank for emotional distress and discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. She is seeking compensation for lost wages, emotional pain and mental anguish for an unspecified amount. 1:47 'Child's Play' trailer A similar situation took place in the U.K. in May when an NHS worker was awarded close to 30,000 pounds (C$55,000) after being compared to Star Wars bad guy Darth Vader at work by a former colleague. Story continues below advertisement Lorna Rooke said that in 2021, a co-worker took a Star Wars-themed Myers-Briggs personality test on her behalf that likens participants to one of the franchise's characters. Rooke, a blood donation bank employee, was given Darth Vader — the Sith lord widely viewed as one of the most powerful, hated villains of the franchise — as her personality doppelganger, but said she was not present when her colleague, Amanda Harber, took the quiz for her, saying she had left the room to answer a personal phone call. Harber then disseminated the results among their colleagues. An employment tribunal in Croydon, London, ruled that the incident was a 'detriment' because it harmed Rooke and impacted her negatively, the BBC reported. As a result of the quiz, Rooke was made to feel widely disliked, which contributed to her low mood and led her to feel anxious in the workplace, the tribunal found. She won the detriment case and was compensated 28,989.62 pounds, which equates to C$53,288.76. — With files from Global News' Rachel Goodman
NDTV
19-06-2025
- NDTV
US Banker Sues Employer Over Chucky Doll Prank, Claims It Gave Her PTSD And Ruined Career
A former employee of a US bank is suing her ex-employer on allegations that a manager placed a Chucky doll in her office chair despite knowing she was afraid of dolls. According to the New York Post, Debra Jones, who worked at North Carolina's Truist Bank, filed a complaint against her former company on May 21. In her complaint, she alleged that she was "subjected to discrimination and retaliation based on her being a qualified individual with disabilities". She is now seeking compensatory damages from the bank, according to the complaint filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Debra Jones said she began her employment at Truist Bank in April 2024, the outlet reported. In her complaint, she stated that she was diagnosed with "major depressive disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, and autoimmune disorder vitiligo." She alleged that her employer knew she had those medical conditions and her fear of dolls. In June 2024, during the last week of new hire training, Ms Jones said that her manager placed a Chucky doll in her office chair. Notably, the doll is a fictitious character from the 1988 slasher horror film 'Child's Play'. In her complaint, she said that the manager's actions interfered with her training and worsened her medical condition. She also alleged that her manager laughed when he saw her reaction to seeing the Chucky doll. On the same day, Ms Jones was treated by a medical provider and was placed on medical leave for eight weeks. She then received a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the Chucky incident. Ms Jones returned to work in August 2024 and was assigned a new manager and was allowed to leave work at 3 pm, three times a week, for treatment of her autoimmune disorder. Then, three months later, she said that the new manager made a joke in front of her and the team about her being "always fraudulent vigilant," after she discovered a fraudulent check. Ms Jones said she found the joke offensive. In her complaint, she argued that she was being treated differently when she made mistakes, and that the different treatment was based on her disabilities. She also alleged that she was subjected to retaliation and discrimination by her new manager. In January, Ms Jones alleged that another manager told her that her reasonable accommodation of leaving work at 3 pm was affecting the other employees who needed time off. They also told her that the job might not be a good fit for her and that she can't keep using her emotional and anxiety problems as an excuse. They also allegedly told her that she would be fired if she didn't improve. In her complaint, Ms Jones claimed that she experienced panic attacks after meetings with the two managers and was later taken out of work for treatment of her disabilities. Then, in March 2025, she was notified by her employer to pick up her personal belongings at the office. She argued that she experienced retaliation, discrimination and different treatment based on disabilities. She also stated that the actions of the bank have led to lost wages and caused her emotional pain and mental anguish.
New York Post
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Ex-employee says Truist Bank's Chucky doll prank gave her PTSD, ruined her career: lawsuit
No child's play. A former Truist Bank worker said a prank at her ex-employer involving a life-sized Chuck doll has left her with post-traumatic stress disorder and turned her life into a real-world horror movie. Debra Jones is suing the company for discrimination after her boss allegedly placed the creepy red-headed doll – which comes to life and kills people in the movie 'Child's Play' – in her office chair at a North Carolina branch last year. 3 The killer 'Chucky' doll from Child's Play 3. ©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection The doll was meant to be a harmless prank during her training, but for Jones, it was no laughing matter, the lawsuit filed in Nash County contends. The employee had a crippling fear of dolls, plus major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and the autoimmune disorder vitiligo, according to the suit she filed in May. In fact, she said her boss had known about her phobia and other conditions, which inspired the prank in the first place. Her brush with 'the doll that kills people,' as it is referred to in the lawsuit, ruined her career, she said. Jones developed PTSD and took eight weeks of medical leave, according to the suit. Even when she came back, she left work early three times a week for treatments for her autoimmune disorder, which she said had been triggered by her run-in with Chucky. She said her condition — which affects the pigmentation of the skin — made her the butt of jokes around the office, and leaving work early landed her on her managers' bad side. 3 Debra Jones was fired by Truist Bank and is now suing for discrimination. Bloomberg via Getty Images 3 Alex Vincent holding Chucky the doll in Child's Play 2. ©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection The company finally gave her the ax in March, claiming she 'cannot keep using her anxiety and emotional problems as an excuse' for bad performance, the lawsuit states. Jones is suing Trust Bank for emotional distress and discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The lawsuit does not name a dollar amount sought for the damages.
