Dusk and Dawn 2

Dusk and Dawn 2 is a 2008 American computer-animated fantasy comedy film produced by Starz Animation and MGM Animation Studios. The second installment in the Dusk and Dawn franchise and the sequel to Dusk and Dawn (2002), it was directed by Dick McClane with a screenplay written by William Davies and Michael J. Wilson from a story by Eliza Stein. The film features Gregory Smith, Zooey Deschanel, Anthony Hopkins, Christine Baranski, and Dan Aykroyd reprising their roles from the previous film, with newcomers Sam Neill, Isla Fisher, Nicole Kidman, Jeff Garlin, and Bill Nighy joining the cast. In the film, Dusk and Dawn's new lives turn upside down when an advanced Venus threatens their home, and they attempt to get rid of Venus but are forced to make peace with him.

Plans for a sequel began in November 2002, following the success of the first film. It was announced a few months later that the sequel was being directed by Phil Nibbelink, who directed the first film, while Chuck McKay also returned for the sequel to provide the art and design. New ideas were also conceived along with some unused ideas from the first film, with Dawn being the main focus of the new story. The film since underwent many several changes, such as rewrites, directors, and release dates. David Newman also was announced to compose the sequel's score, replacing Michael Kamen, who scored the first film.

Dusk and Dawn 2 premiered at the Mann Village Theatre, Westwood in Los Angeles on March 22, 2008, and was released in the United States on April 4, 2008 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for its animation, characters, humor, voice acting, and score but criticism for its screenplay, while some considered it inferior to its predecessor. Despite this, it was positively welcomed from audiences and fans and was a box office success, grossing $414 million worldwide against a budget of $80 million, making it the fifth highest-grossing animated film of 2008. A sequel, titled Dusk and Dawn: A Zodiacal Night, was released on March 25, 2022.

Plot
Sometime after Twilight and Sun's people made peace, they now live together in harmony. Dusk and Dawn have stayed best friends, hanging out after a celebration party in Sun's palace. One day, the pair receive a message from a nearby land called the Belt of Venus that they are plotting to overtake both Dusk and Dawn's home, unless they want to make peace with them. Dusk and Dawn recruit the humanoid Keeper and his tribe to learn more about the Belt of Venus. A meeting in the tribe's home is disrupted when a bolt of lightning from the Belt of Venus hits Dusk and Dawn's home, forcing everyone to evacuate.

Dusk and Dawn enlist their friend Light alongside Twilight, Sun and Keeper to embark on an adventure to find the Belt of Venus. Meanwhile, Venus talks with Twilight's fellow periods Blue and Golden that Dusk, Dawn and their tribe evacuated their home. He confesses that Twilight was once his follower but he abandoned him for being disrespectful towards everyone in Twilight's palace. Blue and Golden find Dawn and convince her to visit the Belt of Venus, making her separate from Dusk and the rest of the group.

By the time Dawn eventually arrives at the Belt, Venus guides her through the rest of the Belt and joins her for dinner, but she did not accept it. Despite hearing this, Venus automatically takes Dawn to dinner. Suddenly, Venus' playful pets started to have a food fight with Dawn at dinner and they tried to help her leave the Belt and reunite her friends, but Venus and his guards imprison her. At the same time, Dusk and his group notice that Dawn has gone missing and they attempt to find her, but no avail, making Dusk depressed.

The next day, Venus lets Dawn free out of her cell and decides to spend more time on the Belt, much to the delight of the others. Dawn later discovers that Venus was not only Twilight's former follower, but he had also once met Sun ever since Dawn was young. Later, Dusk and his group finally find Dawn in the Belt of Venus, but somehow both of them get into an argument when not only Dusk can't find Dawn a long time but also can't decide whenever they can spend time on the Belt or not. Dawn refuses to believe what Dusk said and ends her friendship with him, causing him and the group to turn against Dawn.

After Dusk and Dawn reconcile for an apology, Venus traps both of them and reveals that he has actually been plotting to seize both Twilight and Sun's homes by wiping everyone out while pursing them to stay in the Belt of Venus. Dusk and Dawn refuse to believe that, and Venus gets outraged and injures Dusk. This in turn causes Dawn to attack him for hurting her friend. The duo begin to fight Venus, who calls his henchmen. Dusk, Dawn, Light, Twilight, Sun, Keeper, Blue, Golden and the others team up to defeat Venus's minions. Suddenly, Venus grabs Dawn but Sun rescues her own creation and they escape safely, leaving behind a furious Venus with the Belt destroyed, causing him to vanish completely.

Dusk and Dawn, along with the rest of their friends, return back home. While everyone celebrates the pair's bravery, Twilight and Sun credit them for saving their homes, and Dawn explains to Dusk that "someone manipulating you is not the right thing to do because it's what friends are always for," again resuming their relationship.

Cast

 * Gregory Smith as Dusk
 * Zooey Deschanel as Dawn
 * Anthony Hopkins as Twilight
 * Christine Baranski as Sun
 * Dan Aykroyd as Light
 * Sam Neill as Venus
 * Isla Fisher as Blue
 * Nicole Kidman as Golden
 * Jeff Garlin as Morning
 * Bill Nighy as Evening
 * Chris Parnell as Elder Jo
 * Jennifer Hale as Elder Ji
 * Keith David as Elder Ja
 * Craig Ferguson as Tio
 * Billy West as Keeper
 * Tom Kenny as Mark, Scout #1, Billy, Teacher Ted
 * Jim Cummings as Sparkle
 * Jennifer Darling as Miss Night
 * Chuck McKay as Mr. Night
 * Steve Blum as Terminator
 * Fred Tatasciore as Noon
 * Ariel Winter as Little Girl
 * André Sogliuzzo as Scout #2
 * Jack Blessing as Sam
 * Dick McClane as Iceblink
 * Rob Paulsen and Corey Burton as Photogs

Loop Group

 * Kirk Bailey
 * Ranjani Brow
 * Cam Clarke
 * Dave Cowgill
 * Moosie Drier
 * Eddie Frierson
 * Jackie Gonneau
 * Nicholas Guest
 * Bridget Hoffman
 * Wendy Hoffman
 * Sherry Hursey
 * Rif Hutton
 * Scott Menville
 * Edie Mirman
 * Sandy Simpson
 * W.K. Stratton
 * John Hans Tester
 * Ariel Winter

Production
To be added

Release
Dusk and Dawn 2 had its premiere at the Mann Village Theatre, Westwood in Los Angeles on March 22, 2008. It was released in the United States on April 4, 2008. Originally scheduled to be released on February 10, 2006, Dusk and Dawn 2 has had several additional release dates since it was first announced. It was delayed to December 8, 2006, to avoid The Pink Panther, and then to April 6, 2007. The film was later delayed to December 21, 2007, and was then pushed back for one final time to April 4, 2008.

Marketing
The film's teaser trailer was released in theaters with the release of Upside Mystery on August 17, 2007. The first full-length trailer was attached to the theatrical release of Alvin and the Chipmunks on December 14, 2007. MGM partnered with several companies to promote the film, including Burger King, AT&T, Best Buy, Ziploc, and General Mills for about $60 million worth of advertising. A balloon themed after Dusk and Dawn debuted at the 2007 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Video game
A video game based on the film was released by Electronic Arts on April 1, 2008 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, and Wii.

Home media
Dusk and Dawn 2 was released on DVD and Blu-ray on August 12, 2008, by MGM Home Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. An Ultra HD Blu-ray version is set to be released on June 14, 2022, by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment for the first film's 20th anniversary.

Box office
To be added

Critical response
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 56% based on 162 reviews. The critical consensus says, "Dusk and Dawn 2 doesn't shine particularly as bright as the original, but for older fans and younger newcomers, its spectacular visuals and affectionate performances make it a welcoming return." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 48 out of 100 based on 34 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" of an A+ to F scale.

Main transcript
To see the transcript of the film, click here.

Trailer transcripts
To see the transcripts for the trailers of the film, click here.