Mandao Returns Review

Mandao Returns is a 2020 feature film written and directed by Scott Dunn.

Another fun but more mature romp in the astral projection comedy series, Mandao Returns builds on the groundwork of the first film but does in some places feel like a stopgap for a possible third film.

If the above statement rings true then the middle chapter to any trilogy is always the hardest part. You already have the characters set, you know where you want to take things, but you have to fill the time with some kind of adventure to go on.

What is well done about this film is the further world building that it establishes. What we are seeing are elements that should play out nicely in the conclusion to the films, and some inspired moments that keep things fresh.

In particular, when Jay and Jackson have to body swap with astral projecting into one another we get a great scene in which each actor channels the other. This is something we have seen before but it plays out well in the film and makes for a solid change of pace.

The new characters in this one are not as rounded out as the supporting players in the first film, but they do a good part in introducing what seems to be a main foe for the final installment. The actors are solid but there is just not a lot of empathy felt at any point for either one.

In the visuals though we have a jump in quality over the first film, and an overall improvement in a film that seems to have a bigger budget than the one before.

Again, at the core of the film is the dynamic between Jay and Jackson which is as strong as ever but with the new plots in this one we don’t get as much of them playing off one another by themselves. The times we do are just as funny as the first film but it is understandable to want to keep the storyline from becoming too formulaic.

This is a much more mature film than the first one as we are further exploring the dynamic between Jay and his father as well as Jay and Fur’s relationship too.

Mandao Returns is a solid sequel that in some moments feel like padding for a third film but if you were a fan of the original, then there is plenty here to love. It is not a bad film at all and the concept of combining horror, sci-fi and comedy is still a fun one to explore.

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Cheers!

Daniel Hess

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