IT

IT (2017)

Directed by Andy Muschietti 

Written by Chase Palmer, Cary Fukunaga, Gary Dauberman

Based on the novel by Stephen King

Starring Jaeden Lieberher, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyatt Oleff, Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hamilton

 

From IMDb:

"A group of bullied kids band together when a shapeshifting monster, taking the appearance of a clown, begins hunting children."

 

Okay, so I finally caught the recent big-screen adaption of Stephen King's IT. It's been quite awhile since I've read the book or seen the original TV version (all hail Tim Curry!) so I wasn't too stuck on stuff like "that's not what happened!" and all that.

 

First off - the cast did great. A movie like this, focusing on kids, really needs the right kids in the roles to pull it off and they put together a fine group for this one. Kind-of have to feel for Finn Wolfhard, tho. Between this and STRANGER THINGS, the poor guy seems to be stuck in the 80s no matter what he does.

 

Yep, it's another 'set in the 80s' thing. In this case, it's because the original story was told in two parts - the characters facing down It when they were kids, then being drawn together again as adults for another go 'round. This movie is simply the first half, with the kids realizing what is really happening in their sleepy little town of Derry and fighting back. Luckily, part two has already been announced so we'll see how that turns out in a year or so, I guess.

 

The original was written in the 80s, with the flashback section happening in the 50s. This version time-shifts events so the kids are dealing with It in the 80s and the next version can be set somewhat currently. 

 

For an 80s set piece, tho, it (or should that be, 'IT'?) really doesn't beat you over the head with 80s references. In fact, some of it still comes across like it could be the 50s. I'm not sure making paper boats to float down the street was still a huge thing by the 80s and Bill's bike, Silver' (and the fact that he still calls it Silver and recites the Lone Ranger's "Hi yo, Silver! Away!") seems like it came straight from the 50s.

The best parts of the movie were when it dealt with the kids just navigating their world - the initial 'Losers Club' of bullied nerds slowly expanding to include the others, including apparently the only black kid in town, and a girl that of course two of the boys end up pining for.

When they're apart and having their own experiences with the evil clown monster, Pennywise, things just kind-of happen and it seems almost at random. There's not a lot of actual tension, and of course way too much 'Look what we can do with CGI!' going on. The kids' encounters with the truly psychotic town bully are scarier and seems to be a bigger threat most of the time. He does seem to do more real damage to the kids than Pennywise ever does (well, except for little Georgie at the beginning - yikes).

It was pretty decent, helped largely by the cast. I liked it well enough that I didn't mind spending the time or money to watch it, but I didn't think IT was anything special. Did make me want to re-read the book or at least re-watch the original version if I can track down the time.