Daniel Craig has said goodbye to James Bond, but he’s back to solve another whodunit as Benoit Blanc. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is out, and we’ve got the review for you. 2019’s Knives Out earned significant acclaim for its strong performances from its all-star cast and impressive Oscar-nominated screenplay. While repeated exposure to the murder mystery genre can make the stories more predictable, Knives Out took several clever and creative turns that kept us on the edge of our seats. So does Rian Johnson pull that same fleet off again in this sequel? Read on for our full review of Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.
‘Glass Onion’ Story- Benoit Blanc of ‘Knives Out’ Is Back
Wealthy businessman Miles Bron (Edward Norton) hosts a murder party on his private island, and he invites a group of friends who he has helped in some way to take part in the event. These friends include the governor of Connecticut (Kathryn Hahn of WandaVision), a fashion designer (Kate Hudson), a scientist who works for Bron’s company (Leslie Odom Jr.), a Twitch streamer (David Bautista), and Bron’s former business partner (Janelle Monáe) who appears to be sour about how they parted ways. Another guest, not invited by Bron but invited nonetheless, is detective Benoit Blanc, who Bron delightedly welcomes as a surprise guest for the murder mystery party. However, once Brom announces that he is going to unveil a project called Klear, his group of friends appear hostile towards him as they clearly have some tie to this project. Tensions are high before an incident in the night makes it clear that Detective Blanc’s presence is necessary and not just for fun.
‘Glass Onion’ Review – A Mystery That Keeps You Guessing
We can’t say much more about the plot of Glass Onion in this review. One, it’s difficult to describe the plot without ruining it, which we do not want to do. And two, saying anything else would rob you of the chance to go see the film and go on the wild ride yourself. And that’s one of the film’s biggest strengths. You’re not really sure where this murder mystery is going, and just when you start to have an idea of where it’s going, it throws you a curveball and takes you in a direction you didn’t expect. At no point is this story where every character is a suspect do we see what’s coming. This is unique and effective storytelling that we don’t see enough of these days, especially in this genre.
Glass Onion is also highly effective for its strong performances. As we already saw in WandaVision, there’s just something about Kathryn Hahn that keeps us glued to her when we see her on screen. And while David Bautista is essentially playing the same oaf that we’re used to seeing when he plays Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy, the fact is that he plays these roles in a way that keeps him endearing and entertaining. Leslie Odom Jr. of Hamilton fame delivers well as a conflicted character unable to separate doing the right thing from his work. Kate Hudson’s character is annoyingly shallow and ditzy, but Hudson plays here so well, proving that she hasn’t gotten rusty from her long-acting hiatus. And while we don’t want to say too much about Edward Norton’s character, let’s just say he once again shows he is one of the finest actors working today.
But Daniel Craig and Janelle Monáe are the true stars of the show. We get much more of Benoit Blanc in this movie than we got with the first film, and with his Foghorn Leghorn accent and his unique mannerisms and style, it’s easy to forget that this is the same actor who played James Bond for 15 years. Craig is truly showcasing his acting range and giving us a truly compelling detective.
And as far as Monáe’s performance goes, we can’t say too much without spoiling anything. But we will say that you are going to see different sides and ranges to the performance that will blow you away.
If there’s any complaint about Glass Onion, it’s that it doesn’t feel quite as fresh as the first movie. Knives Out was a unique and original whodunit that was a breath of fresh air. There was also a sense of sophistication to its Clue-like setting. There’s a lot going on in this one that makes it feel more like an action movie.
Moreover, Ana de Armas made Marta an underdog hero who many could identify with, which some may miss in the new film. However, they will come across a different sort of hero in this one who they may actually find the same traits in if they look closely. Again, we aren’t spoiling anything.
However, you can only complain so much about a sequel not feeling as original as its predecessor. While many sequels can take the same formula from a previous entry and become predictable, that does not happen here. The movie remains suspenseful and riveting throughout, and the writers deserve major props for that accomplishment. And while the sophistication is traded for a more action-movie style, that sort of helps the movie be original and not a repeat of its predecessor.
‘Glass Onion’ Verdict- ‘Knives Out 2’ Delivers
Any minor gripes one may have with Glass Onion are ones they will get over fast. This film is a worthy successor to Knives Out with a compelling story, a well-written screenplay, and strong performances from an all-star cast. Daniel Craig is making Benoit Blanc a truly iconic movie detective, and his performance in this film makes us all the more eager for what the future Knives Out sequels have in store for Blanc. While it doesn’t feel as fresh as the original film, what else can you expect from a sequel in the same genre following the same formula? The fact is that Rian Johnson is taking the murder mystery whodunit formula, flipping it on its head, and delivering a riveting, suspenseful, and at times very funny take on the genre. Anyone who can take this genre and make it his own deserves a round of applause. Glass Onion has our enthusiastic review for being an excellent follow-up to Knives Out, and it’s got us on the edge of our seats for Benoit Blanc’s next case.
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