In this hilarious “Hot Shots!” sequel, former renegade pilot Topper Harley (Charlie Sheen) is once again recruited for a secret mission. This time the country’s incompetent president (Lyod Bridges) sends him to the Middle East to resue U.S. hostages and the countless men who have already been sent in to rescue them. Pining for his former lover (Valeria Golino) in a Buddhist temple, Topper manages to pull himself together and sets out on his laugh-laden, action-packed task.The sequel to the wonderfully wacky Hot Shots! uses Rambo as its model for nonstop send-ups (though director Jim Abrahams can’t resist inserting a Saddam Hussein lookalike, given the film’s post-Gulf War release). This time, Lloyd Bridges, who was an admiral in the first movie, has become president (take that, Colin Powell!) and needs someone to take care of the threat posed by a certain mustached Middle Eastern dictator. Who better than ever-reliable Topper Harley (Charlie Sheen)? In addition to trying to take out Saddam commando-style, Topper must juggle two women: Valerie Golino, from the original, and CIA babe Brenda Bakke, who knows a thing or two about close-quarters combat. If anything, this may be funnier than the first. –Marshall Fine
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December 29, 2010
#1
Rare: A Sequel That Outshines The Original!,
Hot Shots: Part Deux! is an amazing rarity—a sequel that’s actually superior to the first movie. (Not that Hot Shots! was bad; it was quite funny and enjoyable in its own right.) Like the second Star Trek film, this sequel gels all of the good elements from its predecessor and discards whatever didn’t quite click. In this case, the supporting cast made the movie even more than Charlie Sheen as its troubled hero Topper Harley. Returning are the late great Lloyd Bridges, this time as the president, and Valeria Golino as the lovely Ramada. Joining Topper are his former CO (Richard Crenna), a no-nonsense tough-guy soldier (Miguel Ferrer), a cool blonde CIA operative (Brenda Bakke) and Ramada’s hapless yet scornful spouse (the wretchedly hilarious Rowan Atkinson).
Abandoned for no apparent reason by Ramada, Topper seeks inner peace at an Asian monastery, kicking the crap out of whoever steps into the fighting arena with him. His former CO finds him and asks Harley to go on a mission to find the men who went to find the men who were sent to find the men—you get the idea. In a filmed spoof of both other films (Rambo, Terminator II) and real-life events (President George the elder Bush’s unfortunate vomiting into the lap of a Japanese official), Hot Shots Deux is funny, fresh and at times even more insane than a Leslie Neilsen movie, without the tendency to bog down that usually plagues this type of sight comedy.
Sheen, of course, deserves plenty of credit for the movie’s success, for he breathes life into the potentially cardboard lead role. Crenna does an excellent if off-the-wall reprise of his colonel character from Rambo. Bridges is sickeningly funny as the semi-lunatic president who’s had more parts replaced than a ’71 Volkswagen and may be a couple cards shy of a full deck. Gorgeous Golino and beautiful Bakke duke it out—literally, in an homage to American Gladiator. Ferrer, not known for comedic parts, is deadpan, Joe-Friday hilarious as the hard-bitten Harbinger, especially when he goes to pieces during a battle. Atkinson is acerbic and despicable as Ramada’s self-absorbed and undeserving husband. Toss into this mix a dead ringer for Saddam Hussein (with a lisp!), and the result is one crazy ride, almost as insane as the one Topper endures with the CIA blonde on a squeaky bed. Some of the humor is risque but nothing is flat-out offensive; it’s not a movie for young children, but teens and adults alike should enjoy it very much.
In summary, this is that rare sequel that stepped well beyond the confines of its previous version, and was much funnier. Highly recommended for an hour and twenty-eight minutes of viewing pleasure.
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|December 29, 2010
#2
Extremely funny, extremely offbeat!,
This kooky movie is the sequel to Hot Shots! and takes aim at the movie Rambo. In this story, Topper Harley (played by Charlie Sheen) must return to Iraq to rescue a group of people held hostage by that evil madman, Saddam Hussein. Surrounded by a group of equally crazy and trigger-happy misfits, Topper goes in with guns blazing, setting out to make this the bloodiest (and silliest) movie ever! [Color, released in 1993, with a running time of 1:26.]
This is an extremely funny, extremely offbeat movie from that king of funny, offbeat movies – Jim Abrahams. If you are familiar with Mr. Abrahams’ other movies, Airplane and The Naked Gun, then you know just what kind of zaniness he is capable of. Well, this movie lives up to the standards set by those other Abrahams hits.
The story is quite funny, with lots of slapstick, sight gags, and all around silliness. Now, it does have one silly sex scene that will embarrass you to watch in front of your adolescent children, so you should be ready. But, beyond that, it is a silly movie that is a lot of fun for adults and kids alike. I highly recommend this movie!
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|December 29, 2010
#3
Another classic…,
Hot Shots Part Deux goes along side the first movie, “Hot Shots” to create a perfectly hilarious romantic comedy story that will have you doubled over with laughter in no time. This movie is just as wonderful as the first one, whereas a lot of follow-ups on movies are flops. Please note that the cast is terrific with Ryan Stiles, Lloyd Bridges, Charlie Sheen, and even a quick apperance of his father, Martin Sheen. This film is good for all ages and I highly reccomend it for everyone.
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