“Smile 2” is better than its predecessor, but it still lacks substance

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Smile 2
2.5 out of 5 stars
director: Parker Finn
Writer: Parker Finn
With: Naomi Scott, Kyle Gallner, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ray Nicholson
Rated: R for strong, bloody violent content, grisly images, language throughout and drug use.

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) Synopsis: As global pop sensation Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) begins a new world tour, she experiences increasingly horrific and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and pressures of fame, Skye is forced to confront her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control.

Review: “Smile 2” pushed all my buttons in the worst possible way. It irritated me right from the start of the first act and even though I and the film tried to win me back, I couldn't stop hating the experience. Based on the chatter after the film, I think I'm in the vast minority here, as my colleagues almost giggled when the credits rolled.

I'm going to try to take a step back and focus on the big picture rather than the numerous smaller elements that derailed the film for me.

“Smile 2” begins with a coda to “Smile,” picking up where the previous film ended. It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the sequel's narrative, but it does add to the overall universe that Paramount and director/writer Parker Finn seem to be creating.

The actual narrative focuses on disgraced pop starlet Skye Riley (Naomi Scott), who spends weeks rehearsing for her comeback tour after suffering a high-profile drug-related car accident in which her actor boyfriend was killed Skye has been left scarred by the numerous surgeries required to save her life. Still suffering from chronic pain, Skye is forced to turn to a drug dealer to obtain the prescription drugs she cannot legally obtain.

Skye's dealer suffers from a bout of smiles and, after acting incredibly paranoid, kills himself in an incredibly gruesome way. Skye is left covered in blood splatters and is unknowingly the current host of the Smiling Phenomenon.

Skye is already on a crash course with self-destruction and continues to drink an enormous amount of water from Voss bottles. The hallucinations influenced by the smile, coupled with the physical and mental strain of preparing for a major concert tour, send Skye into a spiral from which there is no turning back.

The majority of “Smile 2” is something of a psychological thriller, as Skye embarks on a journey that often takes her into the realm of exaggerated fantasies. There are some rest areas that allow for vicious, incredibly graphic violence. The contrast between black humor and minced meat blood is off-putting.

Appearances are never a problem. Naomi Scott is pretty good. Her supporting cast doesn't look nearly as good, but that's largely due to the way the characters are written. It doesn't help not being able to define exactly what is real and what is a hallucination. They simply aren't defined well enough to determine with absolute certainty what's only happening in Skye's head. Ultimately, the script establishes that whatever may or may not have happened before the film's climax doesn't matter.

The ending sets up a pretty scary scenario for the future of the franchise. It's probably the only detail of the film that's scary. The rest is just silly, with a bucket of blood on the side.

“Smile 2” wasn’t for me. I wanted something more ambitious with a stronger punch when it comes to the music industry and its legions of trailblazers who feed off the talents of its stars. Alternatively, you could explore the horrors that some stars inflict on their employees and/or their fans. Finn didn't want to do this film. That's okay. It just wasn't my thing. I would probably like it better the second time because I already knew what to expect.