Who would have thought that if you put an unexpectedly killer AI in an American Girl doll, there might be some drawbacks and unexpected consequences? That, more or less, is the plot of M3GAN, which is about a roboticist who becomes the caretaker of her orphaned niece, and sees an opportunity. Things do not go well.
M3GAN is directed by Gerard Johnstone (Housebound), and written by Akela Cooper (Malignant, The Nun 2). The film’s cast includes Ronny Chieng (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Brian Jordan Alvarez (Will & Grace), Jen Van Epps (Cowboy Bebop), Lori Dungey (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring) and Stephane Garneau-Monten (Straight Forward).
As of this writing, the M3GAN has an aggregate score of 73 on Metacritic, based on 19 critic reviews. Over on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a higher 97% based on 34 reviews. These scores will shift as other outlets publish their takes, and since it isn’t out yet there are no audience ratings available yet.
Below, you’ll see a selection of the many reviews of M3GAN that have already been published.
M3GAN
- Written by: Akela Cooper
- Directed by: Gerard Johnstone
- Starring: Allison Williams, Jenna Davis, and Violet McGraw
- Premiere Date: January 6
Consequence – 91
“Cautionary tales about the dangers of life in the Internet age can often feel heavy-handed and trite, but M3GAN never feels like an extended Black Mirror episode. Its accessible themes don’t come off as oversaturated, thanks to the wit of the screenplay and a great performance from Williams.” – Cady Siregar – [Full review]
The Wrap – 90
“Johnstone’s film captures the same alchemical blend of heart, humor and havoc you find only rarely, in crossover classics like “Gremlins,” and it yields more entertainment than most would-be blockbusters.” – William Bibbiani – [Full review]
Entertainment Weekly – 83
“The tart in-jokes and absurdity of the script, its winky acknowledgment of all the tropes gone before it, feels like a delirious cap on recent genre hits like Barbarian and Malignant.” – Leah Greenblatt – [Full review]
The Independent – 80
“Picture the Mean Girls queen bee Regina George if someone had given her a knife and a death wish. And she was an android.” – Clarisse Loughrey – [Full review]
Vanity Fair – 70
“It’s funny in ways anticipated and not, and there is enough suspense–or something like suspense–to balance out the coy winks to the audience. The irony isn’t overweening, the doll is equal parts creepy and yassified, and the human lead, Allison Williams, anchors things with an admirable commitment to the bit.” – Richard Lawson – [Full review]
IGN – 70
“M3GAN capably proves herself more than a horror villain meme, although the film does sometimes struggle to balance the horror and comedy.” – Matt Donato – [Full review]
The Guardian – 60
“A entertainingly nasty film for the new year.” – Peter Bradshaw – [Full review]
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