Jay Chandrasekhar (director)
(studio)
1h 39mins (length)
14 June 2018 (released)
17 June 2018
If you’re a fan of 2001 Super Troopers, rejoice, as this will be a winner for you – you may have even contributed to the making of this crowd-funded sequel.
Die-hard Super Trooper devotees raised more than $4.6 million (£3.4 million) to get this film made, bringing back together the goofball gang of prankster-loving state police. However, this time they take their unique brand of law enforcement north of the border after a small bit of Canada is reclassified as U.S. soil.
Now working in construction after being fired first as State Troopers in the original movie, and then as police officers in the ensuing years due to a ride along gone wrong with former child star Fred Savage, are Mac (Steve Lemme) and Rabbit (Erik Stolhanske) still thought of as a rookie, under supervisor Farva (Kevin Heffernan). Meanwhile Thorny (Jay Chandrasekhar) has a job logging and Foster (Paul Soter) is enjoying life with his police woman girlfriend Ursula (Marisa Coughlan).
Setting off to Canada for a weekend fishing trip to meet their old boss Captain O'Hagan (Brian Cox), the Vermont pranksters, minus loudmouth and always annoying Farva, have no idea they’re actually about to be given a third stab at being officers of the law.
Bringing back Lynda Carter for another turn as Governor Jessman, the former troopers learn that due to a recent land survey, a small section of Canada is actually meant to be part of America, with the U.S.’s northern neighbours agreeing to hand the land back over. Jessman needs a police department to oversee the transition, and enlists the ex-colleagues, including Farva who she contacted, to take over from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in the region.
Welcomed by Mayor Guy LeFranc (Rob Lowe on hilarious form), also the town’s brothel owner, embassy worker Genevieve Aubois (Emmanuelle Chriqui) and three Mounties (Tyler Labine, Hayes MacArthur, Will Sasso), the six Americans are thrown into the deep end when they accidentally discover a smuggling plot. As well as having to find out who the mastermind smuggler is, the gang also have to deal with anti-U.S. sentiment, as well as three disgruntled Canadian cops.
Make no mistake, Super Troopers was made for fans, so if you didn’t like/ haven’t seen the original, then this isn’t a film for you.
The first one, written and directed by the five lead actors, aka the Broken Lizard comedy team, became a cult classic, especially loved by stoner college kids, and so that’s who they’re still catering to. That means more stupid jokes, more slapstick comedy and another ridiculous plot. Plus there are lots of nods to the original, including the meow scene, with stand-up comic Jim Gaffigan even returning for meow round two.
Much of the jokes this time around come at the expense of Canadians, something that will draw much bigger laughs from American fans than with us Brits.
The Broken Lizard boys put in solid performances, staying true to the characters they first portrayed 17 years ago, as does Cox, who’s famous for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, but looks like his having a whale of a time once again.
Lowe is brilliant as LeFranc, and Labine, MacArthur and Sasso do well in their French accented roles - the Danny DeVito scene with the Mounties is a highlight of the film. Seann William Scott and Damon Wayans Jr.’s cameo is also fun.
Super Troopers 2, again directed by Chandrasekhar, is not clever comedy, but if you’re one of those that loved the first flick, don’t miss out on the sequel.