Airplane II - The Sequel (Wide Screen) > Reviews > Not really about an airplane!!

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Good
Special Effects	Standard
How does it compare to similar films?	Outstanding

Advantages:	Slap Stick comedy at its best
Disadvantages:	Its just not the original

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Please know this review does reveal minor plot details

If reading this, you may well be asking, 'why has this guy decided to review a film that was released before he was even born?' Well it's a good question, however, if you've ever seen the original air plane you may well understand.

If you liked airplane then you're sure to love this film as it is filled with similar styled jokes and ideas. This is either really good if you loved the first film, or a complete travesty is you didn't.

--- Plot ---
The basic plot is that the Mayflower I is a passenger space shuttle attempting to make its first trip to the moon, once it has taken off, however, a computer glitch sends the shuttle heading straight towards the sun.

Ted Striker (the main man of the story), played by Robert Hays, was the shuttles test pilot, and had realised that there was a problem when he flew it. The company, needing the shuttle, made striker out to be mad to prevent him testifying against the shuttle.

Ted escapes from his mental hospital and makes it to shuttle only to find that his past love Elaine, played by Julie Hagerty, is a stewardess for the shuttle (he still loves her, she now loves the shuttle pilot).

The plot essentially pans out exactly the same as the original, Ted is forced to pilot the plane single handedly, save the passenger and get back Elaine (again, obviously the relationship might not be working, having lost her in the time between the first and second movies). However he is this time forced to land on the moon (not Chicago), were the base is manned by Buck Murdock (William Shatner).

I have to say although the plot lacks originality it tends to follow the motto, 'if its not broken why fix it.' The gags are what really made the film, and they do not disappoint.

--- Gags ---
I thought I would give you just a quick overview of a couple of the gags used in the film (don't worry I wont spoil it, im only quoting a few and there are hundreds in the film).

Many of the gags are of the same variety:

'Oh my God, it's the sun!!'
'What is it?'
'It's a big burning ball of gas, but that's not important right now'

This is funny, but does tire after the full 81 minutes. Other memorable jokes include the hilarious line by Shatner:

Ted Striker? Never heard of him. That's not exactly true, we were like brothers.

I will stop divulging here so as not to spoil a hilarious film, which is filled with whitty one timers, and hilarious physical comedy that I couldn't even begin to describe here.

--- Characters and Performances: ---

The two leads, return from the original and play their roles extremely well. Unlike with so many sequals they are not left to carry the film, the support characters are largely very competent, all providing hilarious lines and acts in the film. Shatner is hilarious (especially when he looks in the periscope and sees the enterprise).

Cameos from Raymond Burr, Herve Villechaize and Sonny Bono only add to the film. The is, however, one character that gives a rather less than exceptional performance. This is Chad Everett who plays the shuttle pilot Simon Kurtz (Elaines love interest), who just doesn't seem to get the whole idea of the film and rather lets the part down.

--- Film Info ---

Run Time: 81 mins
Languages: English, German (both only in mono)
Subtitles: English, Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Swedish, Turkish (surprisingly no french)
Display: widescreen (16:9)
Age limit: 15 and over
Writer: Ken Finkleman (not the original ZAZ team of Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker)

--- Cast List ---

Robert Hays .... Ted Striker
Julie Hagerty .... Elaine Dickinson
Lloyd Bridges .... Steven McCroskey
Chad Everett .... Simon Kurtz
Peter Graves .... Capt. Clarence Oveur
Chuck Connors .... The Sarge
William Shatner .... Cdr. Buck Murdock
Raymond Burr .... Judge D.C. Simonton
John Vernon .... Dr. Stone
Stephen Stucker .... Controller Jacobs/Courtroom Clerk
Kent McCord .... Navigator Dave Unger
James A. Watson Jr. .... First Officer Dunn
John Dehner .... The Commissioner
Rip Torn .... Bud Kruger/President Reagan
Sonny Bono .... Joe Seluchi

--- Overal Thoughts ---

Overall I liked this film, I thought it was really funny and definitely worth a watch (especially with a group of friends). The film does let itself down once or twice (Chad Everitt, and a couple of the jokes get repetitive). If you like the style of of slap stick comedy first pioneered by Laurel and Hardey then you will really like this.

This review has sadly come to an end, however, I hope this has helped you out.

Chirs