You know a film is dreadfully stretched when you can skim through and it doesn't matter because many parts were not essential for the plot anyway. The late B. J. Habibie was an empathetic leader and a phenomenal academic, his early development of those traits is what I was hoping to see more in this film considering we all have witnessed his romantic side in the first film. But of course, some cringe filmmakers should turn this into a cringe work as well. The script is unbearable, the drama is over the top, and most of the actors were either too stiff or take themselves too seriously in the dramatization take. If you intend to make a dual-language film to better reflect the location setting, then go for it fully, don't make a clearly white character speaks Indonesian 90% of the time just because they were "learning the language" a while ago, Chelsea Islan's accent is aggravating at this point. Do you really try to sell the idea that someone speaks a foreign language when they're explosive? Be real for a second. Also, I'm sure this film is backed by a big budget considering the success of the first one, so I wonder what pushed the hair and make-up department to fail spectacularly. Most of the characters abroad, especially the female ones, are presented rather modernly with their hair and make-up. You see, not even Reza Rahadian's genuine performance could save this film.
Review of Rudy Habibie
