I think critics will be kinder to the sequel for "knowing what it is". The problem with the last movie wasn't that they tried to mix light and dark it was just very badly executed. By treating it like a kiddie Loonie Toons-esque cartoon there will be some who will give it a pass on it's flaws.
As for it being another box office hit. I can see this doing round about the same numbers maybe a little more. Certainly "embracing" at least in terms of the visual aspect the most famous version will win over a lot of cynics that walked out disappointed with the last movie but I don't think it will win over many people who didn't even give it a shot which is what it needs to make the kind of profit Paramount will genuinely be pleased with.
