10/12 ForReel Score | 4/5 Stars

I know, I know…many people don’t consider “funnest” a real word. But let’s just embrace the silliness of it for this review, because Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is a movie that thrives on being fun and silly while maintaining a sensible style of comedy, all framing a thoroughy interesting mystery and, in my opinion, improving on its predecessor.

That predecessor, Rian Johnson’s Knives Out, had its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2019. The film, featuring an impressive ensemble cast that includes Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Toni Collette, Christopher Plumber, Ana De Armas, and of course, Daniel Craig as the notorious Detective Benoit Blanc garnered a strong, positive response from critics and casual moviegoers alike, holding a 4 star average rating with Letterboxd users and a phenomenal 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Though I was not entirely won over by Knives Out the first time I saw it - a presentation that, to me, suffered entertainment lulls when driving exposition - the film has grown on me since then. Enough so that I was thrilled to see the Netflix produced sequel, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, programmed to have its world premiere also at TIFF. And I must say, this time, I was not disappointed.

In Glass Onion, a group of close-knit influencers gather for an annual dinner party hosted by their wealthy tech billionaire friend, Miles Bron (Edward Norton), at his private island mansion just ahead of the rollout of his new, potentially volatile energy solution. With the weekend being themed around an elaborate murder mystery game, Detective Benoit Blanc’s unintended invite is both appropriate and curious, especially when there comes a point that an actual murder ultimately occurs. Complicating matters further is the presence of Miles’s ex-partner, Cassandra (Janelle Monae), whose unfavorable falling out with Miles has awkwardly strained their professional and personal relationship. Piecing together nuanced clues and observations, Detective Blanc has to decode actions, intentions, and motives in order to deduce who among them is the murderer.

Glass Onion takes a far more playful approach to this murder mystery endeavor. This installment seems to be more self aware, and that ability to take comedic jabs at itself, pop culture, and society keeps this film thoroughly entertaining. Not to mention Glass Onion’s ensemble, featuring fantastic performances from Dave Batista, Kathryn Hahn, Edward Norton, Janelle Monae, and Kate Hudson (whose Birdie Jay character is a ditzy, scene-stealing standout among the cast), maintains a wildly entertaining dynamic. And Craig is better than ever as Detective Blanc, fully embracing both the cleverness and the silliness of his Detective Benoit Blanc character.

What’s more, the movie looks stunning. Set designs depict lavish, extravagant settings, whether that be the luscious outdoor pools, gardens, and plazas, or the immaculately decorated rooms and halls of Mile’s mansion. And the cinematography is bright and vibrant. Outside shots burst with beaming color, and even dark or night time sequences somehow have an illustrious pop to them.

But ultimately - and what’s crucial for a successful whodunit - the mystery in Glass Onion is wholly engaging, and the way the plot plays out is great at keeping viewers guessing. Is that detail important? Could this be what’s going on? Did I just see what I thought I saw? These are the kind of questions I want to be asking when I invest myself into piecing together a mystery, and Glass Onion excels in this department while also maintaining a snappy pace and consistency in comedy.

Screening Glass Onion at TIFF means I had the distinct pleasure of watching this film on an IMAX screen - a magnificent experience that not many will be able to enjoy as the film gets limited theatrical release later this year, then placed in its home on Netflix just before Christmas. But the recommendation that my in-theater experience implores me to pass on is whenever or wherever you watch Glass Onion, do it with a crowd. Whether that be in one of the select theaters with an audience or in a get together with friends and family at home for the holidays. Glass Onion is a fun time that begs to be experienced with others - likely the funnest film you’ll watch on Netflix this year.

TIFF 2022 | MOVIE REVIEW: "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery" Is A Whodunit Mystery At Its Funnest