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| Courtesy of Summit |
If
you haven’t seen any of the other films, it would be pointless to start with
this one. Condon knows that only the hardcore fans are hanging around by now,
so he doesn’t even bother with a recap for newcomers. Instead, the flick opens
with Bella (Kristen Stewart) in vampire mode, completely healed from her horrific
childbirth experience in Breaking Dawn – Part 1. Apparently, this is what it
took to get the insipid character to stop sulking, because Stewart actually
gets several opportunities to – gasp! – smile this time around.
In
fact, almost everyone in the movie seems more chipper than usual. Bella’s new
vampire husband, Edward (Robert Pattinson), is downright giddy, likely because Pattinson
knows he’s only a few short scenes away from making real movies. Jacob the
werewolf (poor Taylor Lautner, saddled with the most ludicrous plotline in a
flick full of absurdity) is happy because he’s in love with Edward and Bella’s
newborn baby, Renesmee (played by Mackenzie Foy and some of the creepiest CGI
I’ve ever seen).
For
the first hour, there’s no conflict whatsoever. Only when the Volturi, the de
facto leaders of the world’s vampires (portrayed by Michael Sheen, Dakota
Fanning and several others), think Renesmee has been turned into a vampire does
the miniscule plot kick in. The penalty for changing a child into a vampire is
death, so Edward, Bella and their extended family must round up other vampires
to vouch for the child’s natural birth. Everything culminates with a
legitimately riveting battle sequence, but Condon is only allowed to take
narrative risks by wiping away every compelling story development almost
immediately.
As
always, the supporting cast almost redeems the flick. As Bella’s dad, Billy
Burke plays everything in a wonderfully understated fashion, demonstrating his
continued existence as the only rationally-thinking character in this
convoluted story. Michael Sheen hams it up as the big bad, clearly
understanding exactly what kind of movie he’s in.
But
the true MVP is Lee Pace, immensely entertaining as one of Edward’s non-moping vampire
relatives. I’ve given Twilight a lot of grief over the years, but I’ve got to
be honest: if Condon directed a spinoff about Pace’s character – who is funny, self-assured
and actually kills people like a vampire is supposed to – I would watch the
heck out of it. Well, as long no one let Meyer or Melissa Rosenberg, the
franchise’s longtime screenwriter, anywhere close to the script.
Breaking Dawn - Part 2 is rated
PG-13 for sequences of violence including disturbing images, some sensuality
and partial nudity.
Grade:
C+
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