The initial movie was enjoyable, but I initially felt a sequel wasn't needed. However, I learned that it’s actually based on the second book in the series that inspired the first film, which explained its existence. Releasing it two decades later certainly didn’t help, and while some fans appreciated it, the film performed poorly at the box office—a reaction I shared. The plot itself wasn't appealing; it felt like a meandering story without clear purpose. Things didn’t improve until the final section when all three central characters converged, which introduced an element of intrigue, such as confronting a threat of retribution. The actors really carried the film. Without them, I wouldn’t even consider it passable. Keeping the original title was probably just for the existing fanbase; otherwise, a different name would have been more fitting for the story being told. Apparently, this is the director's first sequel ever, and he hasn’t progressed since winning an Oscar ten years ago, particularly with his last couple of films, which were based on strong material. There’s no way I’m interested in a third installment. What I want is another film worthy of award recognition from him. It could have been even worse if someone else had directed it. Still, it's watchable if you liked the first one, so consider that before deciding to see it based on positive comments from just a few people. _5/10_

Source on TMDB