Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993)
Also known as "Hot Shots! 2 "
Just Deux it.
Starring: Charlie Sheen, Lloyd Bridges, Valeria Golino, Richard Crenna, Brenda Bakker, Miguel Ferrer, Rowan Atkinson, Jerry Haleva, David Wohl, Mitch Ryan, Michael Colyar, Ryan Stiles, Rosemary Johnston, Ben Lemon, Buck McDancer, Bob Vila, Martin Sheen
Director: Jim Abrahams
Running Time: 86 minutes
US MPAA rating: N/AUK BBFC rating: PG
Action, Comedy, Romance, War
On DVD 'Hot Shots! Part Deux', or 'Hot Shots! Part Ducks' as I fondly remember everyone calling it at school (British education, best in the world!), attempts to give the 'Rambo' movies the same treatment given to 'Top Gun' in the original. So, where last time we had the gleefully deadpan hero of the piece Topper Harley (Charlie Sheen) darting around in fighter plane, this time he sports an over-sized mullet, has bullets strapped to every visible body part, and racks up a death count consciously putting anything in 'Robocop' or 'Total Recall' to shame.
Other than the new setting and the slightly different choice of target (Saddam Hussein's the villain, though I could've sworn he got bumped off in the first film) it's basically the same routine as last time - which means another gag marathon, some working, most not.
Lloyd Bridges, on red hot form last time round as a senile naval Admiral, returns as the President (a dotty old nutcase for Pressie? That'd never happen in real life!), and again gets to deliver a hefty chunk of the flick's best moments. Also back on board is Valeria Golino as Topper's irksomely non-committal love interest - she seems to have improved on her comic timing in the two years between this and the first one, and bloke viewers will also be chuffed to hear that this film represents probably the best she's ever looked on the screen.
Essentially though, this is a fairly dull follow-up to what really wasn't that great an original in the first place. There's a good opening, and a marvellous 'Apocalypse Now'-referencing cameo from Charlie's dad Martin, but on the whole it just isn't funny enough to gain this reviewer's recommendation. We've just seen it all done before - and better.
DVD Extras: The disc contains both this one and the original 'Hot Shots! movie' - but, on the extra features front, there's only a trailer for each film.
It's Got: Yup, you've guessed it - ANOTHER helium gag. Oh dear.
It Needs: A title that's easier to pronounce for those of us out there who aren't particularly clever. It's an affliction!
Alternatives: Hot Shots!, The Naked Gun, The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell Of Fear, Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult, Airplane!, Top Secret!
Summary: Contains roughly deux funny bits.
Review by Gary Panton
External Links
Hot Shots! Part Deux at the IMDB
