• Release year: 2023
• Director: Yugo Sakamoto.
• Producers: Tsuyoshi Gotô and Riku Sumida.
• Screenplay by: Yugo Sakamoto.
• Cinematography by: Moritada Ijû.
• Music by: Supa Love.

Shotgun Commentary: fun, light, a bit chaotic, great fighting choreos.

Review

Baby Assassins: 2 Babies (Beibî Warukyûre 2 Beibî) is the sequel of Baby Assassins (2021). Not much of a mystery there. The main characters are still Chisato (Akari Takaishi) and Mahiro (Saori Izawa), but this time their adventure is different. Despite being pretty much settled into their new lives, they still haven’t quite figured out their finances.

Much like in the first instalment, this very relatable issue of finding one’s way in the adult world is paired with another conflict in their lives as contract killers. This time, it is not the yakuza calling, but another pair of assassins. They think they will get into the guild if they free up the spots covered by Chisato and Mahiro. Once again, the girls will need to improvise and make the most of their skills to survive in both the civilian and the assassin’s world.

Growing pains

As far as sequels go, this one is quite decent. The protagonists evolve slowly but surely, and so does their relationship. They may still be the two chaotic girls you met in the previous two Baby Assassins, but they do show some signs of maturity.

From the way Mahiro deals with Chisato’s gambling problems, to the way Chisato faces death and danger, it is clear that they know themselves and each better every day. It is interesting that their relationship doesn’t evolve like it usually does in movies but way slower, making it more realistic and adding some tension to the development of the tale.

Gen Z language

For their part, the couple of amateur assassins trying to carve their way into the killer’s company, Yuri (Joey Iwanaga) and Makoto (Tatsuomi Hamada), are almost as likeable as the protagonists themselves. Their introduction shows that they are as young and chaotic as the girls, with only a few small differences, and that’s where the character creation gets interesting.

Even if you omit their skills as killers, their body language reveals how different they are from the girls. Particularly during a Mahiro VS Yuri face-off, where it is made clear that their personalities not only match their fighting styles, they determine them.

Every encounter is a clear reflection of who they are and what they want both from life and from that particular moment, if they are impatient, carefree, shy… It is all in their movements, a craftsmanship that can also be found in Ghost Killer (2024) or the John Wick franchise, and that all action films should study if they want to get the upgrade they most desperately need.

Feminism from both sides

As for their personalities, there is a clear distinction in how they face their opponents, one that low-key highlights the inherent sexism that can also be found in younger generations. Even though the male characters are not your average incels or anything like that, they still make the mistake of underestimating Chisato and Mahiro from the moment they learn they are girls. A common preconception that we are still very far from shedding as a species.

In the other hand, you have Chisato and Mahiro, who also expand on the feminist perspective of the film during their conversation about love. This is the first time that the two women bring up the subject, and they do so as realistically as one can possibly make it. They comment on a romantic film, share their opinions on the characters and the events, and then express their lack of interest in finding a parter.

The impact of a message

Now, this might not be the point of view of all women in the world, largely due to the pressure we are under to find a partner and form a family, but it is the point of view of many who have been smart or lucky enough to be able to form their own opinions on the matter.

Being single or being in a relationship shouldn’t be what determines your existence and, as such, it doesn’t need to be something that you actively look for or avoid. If it happens, it happens, but there is no point forcing it or obsessing about it.

All in all, Baby Assassins: 2 Babies, follows the example of the first instalment in terms of character creation and development, humour, and fight choreos. The story is engaging and just as ridiculously funny as the previous, albeit with a bit more drama, showing that it is not only the protagonists, but their story itself that is maturing.

Advice to take from this movie:

• Never underestimate women.
• It is always handy to know how to clean your own corpse, but maybe an ambulance…no?
• You can make passing friends in the most unexpected of situations.

What’s your take? Have you watched Baby Assassins: 2 Babies? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀