Movie Review: Ejen Ali 2

Truth be told, Ejen Ali 2 wasn’t even on my radar. There’s a little personal history involved — I was once promised a trip to watch the first movie, and let’s just say it never happened (cue dramatic music). Since then, I kinda ignored the whole franchise, even the animated series. But when my nephews insisted we all go watch Ejen Ali 2 during their school break, I gave in. And thank God I did.

This movie is exactly what the Malaysian film industry needs right now. I’ve said this before — our local scene is too comfortable recycling the same gangster, rempit, and hantu stories. But Ejen Ali 2? It’s in a league of its own. The animation is crisp and vibrant, the plot? Surprisingly rich with emotional stakes and high-energy action that honestly gave me Marvel vibes. It wasn’t just good for a local film — it was good period.

I went in cold, without any knowledge of the first movie or the series, and I still found myself completely immersed. That says a lot about the quality of storytelling here. The themes of family, trust, loyalty, and sacrifice were all handled beautifully — layered enough for adults to appreciate, while still being fun for the kids.

What really struck me was how polished the whole production felt. From the world-building to the action sequences, there’s a level of care and ambition here that’s rare in local cinema. No lazy shortcuts, no cheap gimmicks — just pure animated excellence. Honestly, if this movie was dubbed into other languages and released worldwide, I wouldn’t be surprised if it held its own against international animated hits.

It’s no wonder Ejen Ali 2 is currently the number one movie in Malaysia. And after watching it, I totally get the hype. I just hope we don’t have to wait another six years for a follow-up. More importantly, I hope the Malaysian government and investors take this as a wake-up call — fund projects like this. We clearly can do world-class work when given the chance.

I’m giving this a 10/10 — not just because it exceeded expectations, but because it reignited my belief that our local industry is capable of greatness when we stop playing safe.