Movie Poster

First, there's an opportunity. Then... there's a betrayal.

Previous Danny Boyle review:

• Trainspotting

# Review

In this more morose sequel to one of the greatest British films, the original characters return but are now middle-aged. Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor) returns to Edinburgh during a mid-life crisis and visits his old pals Spud (Ewen Bremner) and Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller). Franco (Robert Carlyle) escapes from prison and is intent on hunting down Mark for his betrayal in the previous film.

In many ways this film mirrors the fate of the characters, such as the characters trying to relive and recapture the excitements of their youth, which this film is also trying to do. Just like how the characters fail (expectedly) at being young again, this film, too, lacks the youthful energy of its predecessor. This film is much more retrospective and mature than its predecessor, and while that technically makes this film worse than the first film, it'd be hard to believe that it wasn't done intentionally. It's almost fitting that, compared to the first film, this film is much slower and much more rational in terms of consequences, much like what the characters experience. It's a fitting conclusion to Mark and the crew's stories.

# Conclusion

A very middle-aged film, which is apt given the character arcs.

# Overall rating: 7.6

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