Denzel clearly having a blast is worth a half star on its own, but there’s a lot wrong with this: rushed CGI, retconning Lucius’ parentage to work up some (unearned) emotional resonance, weakening the first film’s ending with another retcon, etc.
Would rather have just been treated to a film about Denzel’s Macrinus instead.
A total blast, well-crafted and way better than it had any right to be.
An unintentionally hilarious overwrought mess. How can you have that stacked a cast and not get a single worthwhile performance? Why so much needless filler? Why of all people is Josh Gad getting that much screen time? Why does it take itself so seriously? What’s with the awful music? So many questions.
