The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (2012)

No matter what I say about The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2, the fanatical female fans of The Twilight Saga will head to the theaters in droves.  A flick for the chicks, the men may as well stay at home from this mushy romance that thinks it's a fantasy yet panders to lust and a family affair.  A far cry from Breaking Dawn Part 1 the film could have been and should have been more of a barn burner like Part 2 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
 
The series finale centers on Bella (Kristin Stewart) working out the ticks of her new found powers, getting her father (Billy Burke ) to accept her and his new granddaughter and becoming the clan attraction that's the key to staving off the inevitable conflict between themselves and the Volturi. Accused of breaking the law of the vampire race by giving birth to a child from parents of kind, the Cullens are faced with defending their homeland.  But, it's not what it seems and Bella and Edward (Robert Pattenson) are out to prove the accusation wrong even if it means death to the clan.
 
The first 90 minutes spools out a gooey family romance with Edward and Bella introducing their newborn child Renesmee to their Twilight fans.  The puppetry CGI mix is poorly done giving more of a "Chucky" feeling to Renesmee than a kinder loving baby.  The incredible spookiness of Renesmee at this point made me shudder when she touches the Cullen Clan's faces to introduce herself.  Later on however, we get a fast track growth that brings out a more loving and protective Renesmee (Mackenzie Foy) that's more endearing. 

Bella has a fling at using her new powers running through the woods looking to feast on an animal for breakfast.  When she gets sidetracked with the scent of a mountain climber, her radar goes nuts.  Her ability to fight has increased to the point she's the toughest Cullen.  But even more potent is her love for Edward who shows a lustful union of man and wife.  Taking everything personal Bella wants to make sure that her relationship has been cemented with the Cullen family and finds that the clan readily accepts her after an arm wrestling fight with the most powerful of their group.
 
Jacob (Taylor Lautner) has been shoved into the background of this episode relegated to being a nanny to Renesmee.  As her protector, he has chosen that it would be the best way for him to still be close to Bella who has not completely broken her spell on him.  A flaw in Meyer's story, this becomes more demeaning to one of the major players than a complete breakup between Jacob and Bella would have been.  If she would have worked in a union between Jacob and Tanya Denali (MyAnna Buring) who's a Vegetarian Vampire for instance, this may have saved the character from loosing its strength.
 
The twelve minute battle scene brings the only reason for males to see Breaking Dawn and they'll have to wait about 90 minutes to get that action rush.  In the meantime the droning music, loving embraces, beautiful vistas and baby love will bore them to death.  Totally a mismatch of drama and action, the film tends to be more girly driven loosing its power to hold even a semblance of a male audience.  Unlike the first half of Breaking Dawn that I gave high accolades, this portion of the book drags for us masculine types.
 
Breaking Dawn 2 does the opposite of the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (another franchise turned into a romance novel) where their first half failed to create interest for the male audience.  Part 2 of Deathly Hallows on the other hand comes across bold, retribution filled and action laden for a better feel.  The trailer for Breaking Dawn 2 suggests a film transition much like the feel of Deathly Hallows, but only delivers in the last 12 minutes of the film.
 
I can go on and on, but it's time to break away from my sprawling diatribe and let the young ladies have their day.  For the ladies Breaking Dawn Parts 1 & 2 are truly a heart throbbing unit to fantasize over, even if it's just a long winded romance that should have been conjugated in marriage a couple of books ago.  Twilight's celebration of romance, wedding and child although more brilliantly written in Breaking Dawn Part 1, has been predictable from day one and yet it will blow the lid of the box-office this weekend as it has in the past.
 
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for sequences of violence including disturbing images, some sensuality and partial nudity. The CGI in the film is not as impactful as in other franchises, so most of the violence looks more hokey than disturbing.
 
FINAL ANALYSIS: A cherished romance finally comes to a conclusion. Young Females (grade C) Males (grade F) Combined (grade D)