Movie review: 'Twilight Saga' ends with real bite

This film image released by Summit Entertainment shows, from left, Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Peter Facinelli, MyAnna Buring, Casey LaBow and Christian Camargo in a scene from 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2.' (Credit: AP Photo/Summit Entertainment, Andrew Cooper)

Finally — finally! — the “Twilight” franchise embraces its own innate absurdity with the gleefully over-the-top conclusion, “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2.”

This is by far the best film in the series. This does not necessarily mean it’s good. But as it reaches its wildly violent crescendo, it’s at least entertaining in a totally nutso way.

Now, Bill Condon finally lets his freak flag fly. His final “Twilight” movie dares to have a little fun — it actually makes you laugh intentionally for once.

Regardless, it’s all prelude for the massive showdown that awaits in the film’s second half. There have been teasers about a bold plot twist, but Condon and screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg have taken a big risk in deviating from the book, and it pays off big-time.

First, though, “Breaking Dawn — Part 2” must pick up where part one ended. No longer torn between two suitors, Bella (Kristen Stewart) has married vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson), produced his hybrid spawn and been turned into one of the undead herself to avoid actual death during childbirth.

And Stewart seems to be enjoying herself for the first time, too. She’s done away with the sulking and lip-biting and thrives within her newfound ferocious femininity.

Jacob (Taylor Lautner), the childhood friend and werewolf who was competing for her affections in small-town Forks, Wash., is still around and he’s assumed a new role: He has “imprinted” on Bella’s newborn daughter, the hideously named Renesmee (Mackenzie Foy), which makes him her protector and lover for life. Yes, this is creepy, but at least the film acknowledges as much.

But the arrival of this beautiful child draws the suspicion and ire of the Volturi, the vampire elite living in Italy who ... I don’t know, govern over these kinds of things? Anyway, they view this half-human, half-vampire as a threat. The bloodsucking Cullen clan and Jacob and his wolfy buddies must band together to prevent an attack, and to prove that the girl’s rare existence should be treasured.