Review: Glass

We live in a world of Superheros. 

David Dunn (Bruce Willis) has been using his super strength for years as some what of a vigilante around Philadelphia, aided by his son, Joseph. (Spencer Treat Clark) He's been tracking someone kidnapping young girls, and when he comes across Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy) their very public fight lands them in a mental institution run by Dr. Staple (Sarah Paulson) who wants to prove to these men that they are delusional in their belief that they are superheros. Of course, our title character Mr. Glass (Samuel L. Jackson) also resides at said hospital. 

Despite thinking both of the film's predecessors, Unbreakable and Split were just okay, I bought into the hype with this one. But It's taken me a while to write this review. I'm very annoyed with a lot of Glass, actually, I'm mostly annoyed with director M. Night Shaymalan. 

Shaymalan apparently thinks only comic nerds are vaguely familiar with how comics work. That's why we have several scenes of people explaining the most obvious comic book tropes, like a "showdown" or a "master plan" to characters like Joseph, Casey (Anya Taylor Joy) and Mrs. Price. (Charlayne Woodard, covered in terrible make up to make her look older than Jackson since she's playing his mother, despite him being five years older than her in real life) The dialogue is absolutely goofy because of this. It felt so condescending that I can't tell if he meant this as a joke or not. They're at a very incompetently run hospital, and someone at one point says "This is where we enter it into the universe" Jokes....right?

This is where I'm torn. I hate this script, but the bones of it aren't bad and most of the actors are good. This really felt like McAvoy's greatest hits in a way. Despite the movie being called Glass it's really his show. Jackson doesn't even speak until well over an hour info the film. Bruce Willis phones it in but I can't blame him because Dunn is given nothing to do here. Casey, Crumb's victim from before has now become his defender in trying to get people to understand his DID. That might have made for an interesting move in itself directed by someone else. I walked away from this really sympathizing with Glass, which I'm not sure was the intended result. And of course, Jolly ol' Shaymalan throws in a ~twist~ towards the end that makes it worse. He also heavily hints at wanting to start his own cinematic universe, complete with his credits showing the names of the three films that he tied together as if his audience is too stupid to know that already. 

I feel bad for all the actors involved. This was a cool idea that Shaymalan completely butchered. I wanted to give it more points for them, but it's a few days later and I'm still irritated about this.

Recommended: No

Grade: C- (I keep going back and forth with this and a D to be honest)

Memorable Quote: "Was he crying? Pussy." - Hedwig (James McAvoy)