Wolff rating: MOSTLY HARMLESS
Plot summary: Bullock is back as Annie, who is once again kidnapped by a mad bomber while travelling.
Biased, pithy comments: Dumb, dumb, dumb. About the time we're rooting for the bad guy, shouting, ``Shoot the girl! Make good your escape!'' you know it's not much of show. The plot is beyond stupid and into vapid, random, and painful, with a dash of crummy. Although the pedigree of the actors is OK (outside of Jason Patric, who maintains Reeves' acting-free performance), this lacks the panache and fun of the first film. The first film, even as it left the realm of the plausible (at over 50mph), was just believeable enough to stop you from criticizing it en route. Speed 2, on the other hand, languishes in a sea of disbelief. Speed had the support of some fine actors (including Jeff Daniels), while Speed 2 squanders McCardie's near-Star-Trek-Scotty. Even the little-deaf-girl-in-danger schtick doesn't make us care about what's going on, and as a result we are more insulted than thrilled. After this and ``Twister'', we should just not let de Bont write any more action/disaster flicks.
Other Notes: Strangely, Ebert loved this film for its big, stupid ways, but there are tighter, more clever big, dumb thriller movies like ``The Rock,'' ``Speed,'' or even ``Dante's Peak.'' And better yet, there are clever big, intelligent thriller movies, though few. And yes, I have gotten email from people telling me that they totally love this film. Sheesh.
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Jason Patric, Willem Dafoe.
Directed by: Jan de Bont