T2 Trainspotting is a sequel to Trainspotting (1996) and comes from the same director who created the original film, Danny Boyle. The film stars Ewan McGregor and Robert Carlyle. The film is basically about the group of friends from the first film reuniting together again, where I don’t think much has changed, except they are older now and are suffering pretty badly from their lifestyle.
Before watching T2 Trainspotting for the first time, I wasn’t aware of the original film at all and didn’t know it was a sequel until I read a bit more about it. A few days later I spent some time watching the original one and didn’t really like it that much at all and much preferred what I saw in this second one.
I am actually quite a fan of Robert Carlyle and enjoyed watching him perform in this film, I found his accent to be really funny and his character was I think the most interesting of the cast. The rest of the cast have characters that are somewhat interesting, although nobody really stood out to me as really great to watch.
The main issue I had with this film was that while at certain points it is actually pretty funny and it did make me laugh quite a few times, it’s also a fairly depressing experience. All the characters have taken way too many drugs and made all the wrong decisions with their lives and seem to be continuing to do so. There’s some lines in the film, which can be heard in the trailer about “choose this” or “choose that” instead of something, I suppose instead of what these characters chose in life. But honestly, watching these bunch of people was depressing and once I left the cinema. I thought while it was interesting, I just don’t consider it a good time.
Overall this is a film that if I had to pick one of my real life friends or family to come with me to see it or to even tell one of them to go and see it, I actually don’t know which of the bunch would enjoy it. Unless they’re a person interested in just seeing any film, I’m not sure who the audience is for T2 Trainspotting. It’s funny, Robert Carlyle is really great, but it’s also depresssing and isn’t an uplifting film experience.
