Film Review: "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery" (2022).

From the writer and director of Knives Out comes Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. This mystery film written and directed by Rian Johnson. It is the sequel to the 2019 film Knives Out. World-famous detective Benoit Blanc heads to Greece to peel back the layers of a mystery surrounding a tech billionaire and his eclectic crew of friends.

Before the release of Knives Out, Johnson had teased the possibility of a sequel revolving around the lead character, Detective Benoit Blanc. In early 2020, the sequel was officially greenlit by Lionsgate. In March 2021, Netflix outbid Amazon and Apple at an auction to acquire the rights to the film and another sequel to Knives Out for $469 million, with Johnson returning as director, Daniel Craig set to reprise his role as Blanc, and a budget of at least $40 million for the first installment. By late June 2021, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Noah Segan, and Dallas Roberts rounded out the film's ensemble cast. Additionally, the title was officially announced as Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. Craig worked with a dialect coach to regain familiarity with Blanc's Southern accent. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in mid September. Filming took place in Spetses, Greece and Belgrade, Serbia. 

The film stars an ensemble cast that includes Craig, Norton, Monáe, Hahn, Odom Jr., Hudson, Bautista, Henwick, Cline, Segan, and Roberts. It has good performances and brushes of originality and freshness. Yet it tries so hard for the audience's approval and validation it becomes somewhat bugging. Good movie nonetheless. The all-star cast takes turns chewing the scenery. Craig again steals the film as Blanc. If film fans are wondering if there is still life after James Bond for Craig, the answer is still a resounding YES. We are absolutely going to miss Craig as Bond, but perhaps he's trying out a new franchise under the unlikely name of Blanc. I certainly don't mind.

The sequel is another very good silly-funny satirical comedy, with a super all-star cast cavorting as recognizable pulp fiction detectives gathered at the home of Norton's Miles Bron, a manipulative yet idiotic billionaire throwing an unnecessarily lavish weekend getaway for his closest "friends". It's worth seeing for some delicious character acting by major stars and, especially, for the gay sub-theme winding through it. If parody, in this occasion, reaches a superior level, it is due to the effective cast and the irony with which the story is told. So it all doesn't amount to much, and -- some knuckle-dragging 'their stupid'/'no I'm not' humor aside -- it's more Scooby Doo than Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Still, it's an amusing tea-cozy of a spoof with an enjoyable cast. A funny modern satire on the old murder-mystery detective series of the 1930s and '40s. Some jokes hit, while others really hit. The film pokes fun at every type of wealthy elite you can think of and every clich you've ever wanted to red pencil out of a script.

Simon says Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery receives:

Also, see my review for Knives Out.