It (2017)★★★★☆

It’s a big undertaking doing a new adaptation of a Stephen King novel, especially when the original was such a classic. And the original was long enough, but this is even longer. Sure, it’s split between two parts…but the original was a TV miniseries split between a few parts also, and this first part alone was OVER TWO HOURS.

But I have to give it credit where credit’s due. This movie is pretty scary, pretty interesting, and has some really fantastic performances by both the kids and by Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise.

There are some shots and scenes here that are so well done and beautiful (like the water dripping onto the portrait of Bev), and some that are so over-the-top that it’s hard to be scared much at all (like the just previous bathroom scene with Bev). The juxtaposition of these gets a little weird, like there are some tonal differences that make the movie not flow quite as well as it could.

I feel like there are a few Stand By Me and other Stephen King references tossed in as little easter eggs here (or maybe I’m just imagining things)? Which was cute, but also this movie is long enough that I wish they hadn’t been? I wouldn’t say there were significant dragging parts, and I don’t quite know what you’d cut, but I think there could have been some cuts made to make this a leaner film.

And I know, I know a big part of the story is just how “outsider” these kids are in their town and at their school, but the bullying scenes were hard to watch. Even more disturbing than some of Pennywise’s feasting scenes.

Anyway, I did find this entertaining overall, and I’m not NOT looking forward to Chapter Two tomorrow, but…tomorrow’s is an extra half hour longer, and I’m not looking forward to that.