Movie Review: Glass Onion

Expectations are a dangerous thing. If expectations are too high, they can ruin a movie, but at the same time, low expectations can make a bad movie better. When "Knives Out" was released four years ago, I loved it and saw it multiple times in the theater. I talked it up to anyone who would listen, and it quickly found its place in my top 10 all-time favorite movies. When "Glass Onion" was announced, I was very excited.

Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) finds himself mysteriously invited to a "murder mystery" party hosted by Miles Bron (Edward Norton) for his friends on a private Greek island.

"Knives Out" is a masterpiece. It came out of nowhere and was a huge hit; a sequel was inevitable. Writer/director Rian Johnson has crafted another fun whodunnit with "Glass Onion." The setting, characters, and mystery are different enough that this movie is not a carbon copy of its predecessor. It manages to accomplish what most sequels fail to do.

As with "Knives Out," Craig is having a blast playing Blanc. He is always the smartest in the room and relishes solving complex cases. "Glass Onion" finds Blanc in desperate need of a case to solve. The pandemic has confined him to his apartment. He has weekly Zoom with friends, but it doesn't scratch the itch. When this case falls in his lap, he jumps at the chance to exercise his brilliant mind. I would be thrilled if this is the only character Craig plays for the rest of his career.

"Glass Onion" might not be as good as "Knives Out," but it is still a great movie. I know that Netflix and Rian Johnson have a few more planned, and I am sure they will be great; Johnson has yet to make a bad movie. I hope they put the next one in theaters for more than a week.

8/10

Rated PG-13 for strong language, some violence, sexual material and drug content.

2hrs. 19min