It’s time for another delicious Rian Johnson whodunit! Following the critically acclaimed Knives Out was never going to be an easy task but Johnson returns with another eclectic cast and a story full of twists and surprises as we continue the journey of Benoit Blanc (Craig), the world’s greatest detective. Swapping a stately mansion for the island retreat (and literal glass onion) of tech billionaire Miles Bron (Norton), Blanc must unravel the mystery of another shady murder - this time during an actual murder mystery get-together. Everything about Glass Onion is bigger than its predecessor - the location, the scope, the performances (in terms of being ostentatious) - though it’s not easily comparable in the same sense, even Benoit Blanc feels more extravagant this time. The runtime is also slightly longer, and, whilst Glass Onion never drags, had it had the same duration as Knives Out (nine minutes shorter), it would have felt just that little bit tighter and more focused at certain moments. However, Johnson ensures the narrative and mystery feel different which is a huge boon, especially in a genre that can feel repetitive at times. Glass Onion is certainly as sharp as its predecessor, just in a different way - there’s a little more sleight of hand in terms of the reveal though the commentaries on the pandemic, wealth and influencers are there for all to see as Johnson’s script fizzes with a joyful effervescence. There’s also more levity to be found here, whilst Knives Out was by no means a weighty affair, Glass Onion displays a clear nod into self-aware territory - Dave Bautista’s Duke (a Twitch streamer) and Kate Hudson’s supermodel-turned-fashionista Birdie delivering prime examples with their solid turns. The star of the show, though, is Janelle Monae’s Andi who provides a dazzling display that would be spoilerific to dive too far into, but, needless to say, she is excellent - similarly to Knives Out, there are no weak performances here even if not every character is fully developed. Netflix purchased the rights to two Knives Out sequels and this first one was not bad at all, so what’s next for Benoit Blanc? Who knows, but I’m extremely confident it’ll be a blast. Glass Onion is another rollicking mystery that continues the Knives Out series wonderfully - even if it isn’t quite as beguiling as its predecessor.