Speed 2: Cruise Control Review

by Edward Johnson-ott (PBBP24A AT prodigy DOT com)
December 22nd, 1997

Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997)
Sandra Bullock, Jason Patric, Willem Dafoe, Temuera Morrison, Brian McCardie, Christine Firkins, Colleen Camp, Lois Chiles, Jeremy Hotz, Bo Scvenson, Glenn Plummer, Tim Conway. Directed by Jan De Bont. 121 minutes.
Rated PG-13, 1 star (out of five stars).

Review by Ed Johnson-Ott
NUVO Newsweekly
www.nuvo-online.com/film/
Archive reviews at http://us.imdb.com/M/reviews_by?Edward+Johnson-ott
There have been a few sequels that were as good as, or better than, the originals. "Godfather 2", "Terminator 2: Judgement Day", "Aliens", and the even numbered "Star Trek" films come to mind. "Speed 2: Cruise Control" doesn’t. Listening to the audience as they left an advance screening of the film, the most frequent comment heard was "that was cute. " Be honest, are you really interested in a big action-packed summer thrill-ride film that can be summed up as "cute?"

While it’s doubtful that the original "Speed" will ever go down as a cinematic landmark, the film was both a fine showcase for Sandra Bullock’s charm and an efficient little thriller. A big part of "Speed’s" success came from the simplicity of the storyline. If the bus drops below 50 mph, it will blow up, so we have to keep going 50, but we’re running out of road. A simple conceit that confined the action to a set space and focused on the people involved in the situation. During the quiet moments of the ride, we were able to enjoy the chemistry between Bullock and Keanu Reeves.

"Speed 2" lacks both the chemistry and efficiency of the original. Desperate to establish action-movie momentum quickly, director Jan De Bont ("Speed", "Twister") keeps the cameras jiggling from the second the film begins. Even during the subdued moments, the camera whooshes around as if the Tasmanian Devil was filming the story. The movie starts with a comic scene of Bullock taking a driving lesson from instructor Tim Conway. She jerks the vehicle through traffic as if she was in a high-speed chase, while Conway whimpers and cringes. The bit works on a primitive sit-com level, but undermines Bullock’s character, making her look like some half-witted loon.

She soon hooks up with her new boyfriend, an L.A.P.D. SWAT team member, who invites her to take a cruise with him. The two leave L.A. for a relaxing Caribbean cruise on the Seabourn Legend.
As the handsome young couple gets acclimated to the ship, you wait to see the sparks ignite between them, but it doesn’t happen. Jason Patric, who played the older brother in "The Lost Boys", is a fine actor renown for his intensity. It’s in full flower here, as he searches with deadly earnestness for the right moment to propose marriage to Bullock. The moment doesn’t come, as Bullock, determined to take things slow, plays her scenes in an odd, distracted fashion. During their romantic interludes, she looks as if something really interesting is happened just on the other side of the camera. There is absolutely no chemistry between the pair.

Of course, all hell breaks loose in short order, as Willem Dafoe, a disgruntled ex-employee of the cruise line, takes control of the ship’s computers. He fakes a series of fires to force evacuation of the ship, then standard-issue action movie mayhem ensues. Dafoe is another of "Speed 2’s" problems. Films like this work best with a memorable villain and Dafoe is eminently forgettable. He tries; giggling, twitching, and wrenching his eyes into a Charles Manson psychotic gleam, but overall the effect is silly, not menacing. "Speed 2" should have borrowed a villain from the "Con Air" prison transport plane – they had enough bad guys to float a loaner.

As the shipboard action erupts, so do several annoying movie clichés. First off, the entire crew of the ship has no idea what to do in an emergency. Thank God they had two plucky tourists to take command of the situation! Second, the curse of the talking villain strikes as Dafoe skips at least a half dozen opportunities to shoot our heroes, choosing instead to talk to them at great length, explaining his motivations and evil intentions, while giving them time to regroup. Finally, the helpless victim syndrome hits as Bullock is taken hostage by Dafoe and doesn’t escape. Oh sure, she howls, threatens and swings at him periodically, but she stays by his side, skipping painfully obvious chances to get away.
"Speed 2" isn’t all bad. A number of the action scenes are effective, and the film’s nods to other movies and TV shows, particularly "The Love Boat" and "The Poseidon Adventure" are amusing ("Twister" fans should watch the skies for a brief bovine appearance during an explosion. ) That’s about all the fun there is, though. The producers of "Speed 2" should savor their opening weekend receipts, because as soon as word of mouth (and this Friday’s release of "Batman And Robin") gets around, this seaboard mish-mash of missed opportunities should sink like a stone.
Copyright 1997, Ed Johnson-Ott

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