Collaborative directors Matt Angel and Suzanne Coote bring an ass-kicking minor back to the big screen in The Wrath Of Becky from Quiver Distribution. The Wrath Of Becky is the sequel to the 2020 Summer box office hit Becky, released theatrically during the height of the pandemic.
Becky dominated the box office for several weeks and reintroduced America to drive-in theaters’ charms and social distancing nationwide. During the pandemic, drive-in theaters allowed people to escape home viewing to experience films again on a big screen. Lulu Wilson steps back into the title role, which finds her going toe to toe with a fascist organization.
Two years have passed since Becky (Wilson) successfully avenged the murder of her father by a violent biker gang. Since she escaped the violent attack on her family, Becky has been on the run bouncing from foster home to foster home. She finally settles in a small town, finding work as a waitress at a diner. Before long, Becky begins to rebuild her life in the care of an older woman, a kindred spirit named Elena (Denise).
One day a trio of knuckleheads named Anthony (Michael Sirow), DJ (Aaron Dalla Villa), and Sean (Matt Angel) happen upon the diner and display chauvinistic behavior towards Becky. Not one to turn the other cheek, Becky verbally embarrasses them.
Little does she know that the three belong to a group known as the “Noble Men,” led by the sadistic Daryl (Seann William Scott). Feeling their manhood threatened, the trio breaks into their home, attacks Elena and Becky, and even dog Becky’s beloved pooch, Diego. Unknownst to the “Noblemen,” Becky isn’t one to play childish and is more than willing to return to her old ways to protect herself and her loved ones.
I was already hip to Lulu Wilson’s acting from her work in the horror sequel Ouija: Origin of Evil and Annabelle: Creation, so it’s unsurprising that she has carved a niche for herself in genre flicks. Primarily, I gave the first film to see comedic superstar Kevin James go against type, which he easily pulled off.
The sequel takes a similar cast approach in casting Seann William Scott as our antagonist. Granted, Scott showed off commendable athleticism in Bulletproof Monk and the third season of the Lethal Weapon tv series. However, it was the 2018 horror flick, Bloodline that could go dark, and the same vibes gravitate to his role here. His supporting cast of cronies doesn’t serve a purpose other than waiting to have their butts handed to them by our heroine.
As for our heroine, Wilson, who turns eighteen this year, is quickly becoming a scream queen\action hero, and I look forward to seeing how her career plays out. We know Becky plays no games from the first film, but the script avoids overdoing her plot armor which I liked. Hopefully, James Gunn sees the film and puts her somewhere in the DCU.
The Wrath of Becky is chock-full of OMG moments as Becky takes the bad guys to school. You can’t help but cheer a little as she lays them out one by one with her sharp wit (and sharper weapons). The film’s ending hints at a three-quel, so hopefully, this film will succeed.
Final Grade: B +
The Wrath of Becky is Exclusively In Theaters on May 26, 2023
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On a musical level, the documentary is a library of Williams’ great works. It’s dramatic performances of his most famous songs, such as the classic “Star Wars” marches, the grand piano music from “Jurassic Park,” and the melancholy music from “Schindler’s List.” Each song is part of a narrative, a call to revisit old films and remember their heart-wrenching connections. Its thrilling finale (which celebrated his work on “Harry Potter”) also underscores the longevity of his music among audiences today.
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