Boss Baby 2 Family Business

3D Movie Review

Written By: Jacob Scarberry

3D

After being slightly disappointed with the 3D in Raya & the Last Dragon, (The last 3D animated movie that I saw in theaters) there needed to be some redemption to fill the void of 3D animated bliss. DreamWorks Animation has released some spectacular 3D Blu-Rays (The Croods 2, Turbo, etc.). Would their excellent home experience with 3D Blu-ray’s translate to a wonderful theatrical experience? What better way to dip my toes and see my first DreamWorks 3D movie in the theater than with The Boss Baby 2 Family Business?

Simply put DreamWorks has delivered with this movie and the 3D in Boss Baby 2 is spectacular. From the cute studio logo, to the end credits, it's a mesmerizing feast for the eyes. Not only is the picture colorful and detailed, there is some terrific depth at hand, along with plenty of pop-out moments, and even stuff entering the audience (or coming from the audience going toward the screen) in several scenes. One scene in particular was breathtaking in 3D. This is the infiltration scene at the Acorn School when the Boss Baby is attacked by ninjas. This scene is literally filled with arrows and ninja stars popping out of the screen for one amazing 3D spectacle.

This is one of the best 3D films that I have ever seen in a theater and it should not be missed. Boss Baby fans will definitely want to watch this sequel in theaters and in 3D. Fingers crossed for a Blu-Ray 3D!

Final Verdict: Great 3D Editors Choice Award

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Movie

For many years, The Boss Baby (first movie) was the butt of many jokes for me and many others on the internet. The trailers and TV spots made the original movie look atrocious, cheap, crass and lazy. This is one 3-D movie that I bought only just a few months ago, to fill the gaps of my ever-growing 3D blu-ray library (240 and counting!), and to try and complete the DreamWorks 3D section. I didn't even bother to watch the first film in 3D at home, but I mustered through the screening in 2D and found myself shocked. The original film was actually pretty decent, which befuddled me.

Yes, there was plenty of gross out gags, fart jokes, and baby butts aplenty, but there was also some surprising cleverness to the animation and storytelling and some funny jokes as well. It was solid entertainment, slightly weird of course, but I didn't hate it (as I expected to). So getting ready to watch the sequel Boss Baby Family Business, I was kinda positive going into the "local" (Local meaning a 30 mile trip) Regal Cinemas and watching this second movie on the big screen. FYI Watching the first film is not required viewing to enjoy or understand this second film. I also did not watch any of the Netflix Boss Baby TV series (or interactive movie) before watching this second theatrical movie.

Boss Baby 2 Family Business is set a year after the end of the original Boss Baby movie. Tim (Now played by James Marsden, after Tobey Maguire voiced the adult Tim in the first film) is a stay-at-home dad, with a beautiful wife and two kids. His brother, Ted (Alec Baldwin) is the successful business man who is always too busy with work to spend time with family. When the Christmas holidays come around, Tim is feeling depressed, with his oldest daughter Tabitha starting to grow apart from her dad and Ted never attending family functions.

While reminiscing his childhood, Tim hears familiar phone ringing, and discovers that his youngest daughter, Tina (Amy Sedaris), has carried on in the family tradition of working for BabyCo. Tina tricks her uncle Ted to come to the house and the team works together to take on the nefarious Dr. Armstrong (Jeff Goldblum). Dr Armstrong is the owner and operator of the Acorn Schools. He has created a new special baby formula that is designed to make the adults into babies. Tim, Ted and Tabitha all must stop Armstrong from ridding the world of parents.

The first film was a cute movie that told the trials and tribulations of childhood, that left it up to the viewer to decide if the events actually happened. This movie pretty much takes away that mystery and confirms that everything is real. Overall it offers a fun wild ride.

The animation is awesome and colorful, and the voice performances are a delight, and there are some nice laughs, but I am having a slight case of sequel-itis. This movie doesn’t seem better or worse than the original just more of the same. The plot is pretty ridiculous, as is the belief that everyone who comes in contact with the younger Tim, doesn't recognize that his voice sounds like an adult. Marsden doesn't even try to make it sound like a kid, and DreamWorks did bother to hire a kid actor to make it sound believable. Overall the plot is just outright stupid. The movie also has a side story involving school troubles with the oldest daughter. She is super smart, but also not liked, and must overcome an obstacle at a school play. The typical brother sister dynamic is fairly worn and tired.

Despite the many flaws the film still works. Thankfully they reduced the gross out gags in favor of some clever jokes. Yes this movie is still filled to the brim with juvenile humor for the tots. The movie even has a creepy girl who loves horses and has the talent to appear and disappear at her leisure. I wouldn’t say this was an Oscar worthy film or “Pixar level quality”, but it's no slouch when it comes to providing entertainment to families at the local cineplex, or from the home via Peacock.

Boss Baby 2 Family Business is a stupid, but entertaining movie that won't stick with you. The 3D will stick with you but the movie itself is a fairly forgettable family affair.