Rewards patience not only in the way it crafts its central character but develops the era in which it transpires.

Perhaps not as gloriously, guiltily entertaining as some of the films writer/director Halina Reijn used as models but it offers its own pleasures.

For this much-delayed sequel, director Tim Burton has hewed close to the strengths of the original, repeating them when appropriate and acknowledging them when not.

A collage of Hitchcockian elements baked into a story with a more graphic approach than anything the Master of Suspense ever achieved.

Although better than it has a right to be and represents a worthy way to dispose of a couple of hours lying on the couch at home, this is hardly a triumphant return for Axel.

At best, it can be considered as an adequate thriller/comedy chock full of generic action and stale humor.