A Disappointing Sequel: Cheburashka 2 Falls Short of Expectations

Honestly, I've come to expect that in the world of cinema, it's all about the bottom line – and the quality of the result takes a backseat.

Cheburashka 2 film.I went into the first part with zero expectations, and I was pleasantly surprised by some of the ideas in the movie. From the sequel, I didn't expect much, and I just hoped for a fun time.

Cheburashka 2 film. You start watching this movie hoping for a pleasant viewing experience with the family... But it's better not to expect anything when watching the new part for the first time.As it happened, I went to the movie at the end of January, and the theater was packed with kids and their parents – not just kids. Maybe I would've been kinder in my review if I hadn't noticed how much this character managed to hook the little ones and how they'd catch every word and gesture of his. I heard the kids impatiently waiting for the long commercial break to end before the movie started, and some of the little ones grew more and more miserable as the wait dragged on for their beloved hero.

Cheburashka 2 film.At first, I was charmed by the kids' reaction to the delayed commercial, but as the movie started, I found myself laughing less and less.

Cheburashka 2: sometimes Cheburashka tried to cheer up Gena.Cheburashka 2I recently rewatched a few episodes of a show about this super-destructive character with awesome graphics, so during my watch of Cheburashka 2, I couldn't help but think that curious Cheburashka had been turned into some sort of white-furred destroyer from another production. It's really sad. I didn't expect such a letdown.There were too many 'flashbacks'. In the first part, it was all so lyrical and fitting, but here... It's like the scriptwriters and everyone who worked on the film didn't have enough time to bring their work to a decent level. They were rushed, and as a result, we got a film that had all the chances of becoming a successful sequel to the first part, but at least didn't ruin the impression. And the impression was ruined. The idea was good, but the execution fell short. Because of this, Cheburashka sometimes came across as a bit of a goofball, and now kids can follow in his footsteps and repeat some of the not-so-great things he's done in life.

Cheburashka 2 movie.I have to admit, some of the ideas felt a bit half-baked. I mean, we get that the main characters (Cheburashka and his friends) see the value in not scolding for mistakes, but it's only vaguely mentioned that Cheburashka finally understands why Gena was worried and what he was restricted from. That's a pretty powerful idea, but it's kind of squandered. Why is it so important not to overdo it with restrictions and why do we need them at all? The grandma in the movie sets a great example by prioritizing values over material possessions, which is why she forgives her granddaughter for breaking things. But that's a concept that's only really clear to adults, and even then, it's not fully explored in the movie. I think kids and anyone else would understand that it's okay to make mistakes when you're acting out of love. Unfortunately, that's not really addressed in the movie. On the bright side, the actress playing the grandma did a great job of reacting naturally and delivering her lines in a way that felt authentic. But, you know... The actors really saved the movie from being a total disaster, while the writers and whoever else was involved seemed to rush through the project.Cheburashka 2 movie. Cheburashka read a ton, learned a lot, and fell in love with modern psychology terms. Especially the ones for people who constantly criticize us and bring us down.Cheburashka's been reading so much in a year, but he completely missed the basics of safety. It's crazy, given his curious nature! His behavior led to some actions I strongly disapprove of. He'd throw tantrums like a completely unreasonable kid, despite living with Gena for a year. Cheburashka seemed to hate being looked out for. I'm struggling to explain his behavior. The worst part is that the kids in the audience were picking up on this... I'm not sure how to put it... Let's just say I witnessed a mass adoption of bad behavior. It was all avoidable if they hadn't rushed to release the film by a certain date and polished the ideas.Cheburashka 2 movie. They even included a scene from the trailer where Cheburashka proudly showed off his face on the wall... Very family-friendly.Cheburashka 2 movie.Then there was the part with Gena's daughter saying something to her son that really bothered me.

The phrase that got under my skin: 'No matter how many kids we have, you'll always be our oldest and most loved.' ALWAYS THE MOST LOVED! Not 'you'll always be our beloved son, regardless of how many kids we have,' but 'YOU'LL ALWAYS BE THE MOST LOVED.'

As the eldest kid in my family, I've always been bothered by the way some movies phrase things that end up getting taken out of context and used as a mantra by kids. Having read, watched, and learned a lot, I know how these kinds of phrases can affect families. Older kids might start thinking they're better than their younger siblings, and that's just not something I want to see.

Cheburashka 2: I won't say the parrot has any issues.Watching this movie with your kid, commenting, and discussing it is fine. But if your kid watches it alone or with other kids their age, don't be surprised by the 'new tricks' they pick up.I've lowered my rating by three stars for the following reasons:

1 – The movie was rushed out, and as a result, the important ideas weren't properly conveyed to young viewers;

2 – They made Cheburashka into a spoiled brat who's always complaining and being obnoxious towards the person taking care of him;

3 – Leaving kids to watch this movie without adult supervision can lead to them imitating the bad behavior they see on screen.

Unfortunately, the more I think about Cheburashka 2, the more I'm disappointed by its details.

I was hoping they wouldn't ruin the Cheburashka story, but it seems they've turned it into a commercial product just to make a profit.