An Exercise In Nonsense

A different way of telling a story

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

CROCODILE DUNDEE II is a sequel to the surprise Aussie hit which catapulted Paul Hogan into fame as the irrepressible Outback hero. This one offers more of a same, but the plot is completely different this time around, featuring a gang of Colombian drug dealers who kidnap Mick's girl, forcing him to go on a Rambo-style rescue mission. I actually prefer this to the original, although it's not as fresh or iconic, purely because it dispenses with the romantic stuff and focuses instead on the action-adventure template.The New York material is very funny, from Mick's abseiling antics to the dumb cop scenes, the Japanese tourists, and the great suicide attempt scene. Things move to the Outback for the climax and remain just as entertaining, with John Meillon giving a fine swansong performance (the actor died soon after release). The jokes are funnier than ever and the plot, dealing with the constant outwitting of the bad guys, never lets up despite a lengthy running time.

Crocodile Dundee 2 (1988): Dir: John Cornell / Cast: Paul Hogan, Linda Kozlowski, Charles S. Dutton, John Meillon, Stephen Root: A complete reversal of the original cliché driven comedy. Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski return as the odd couple living in New York. She is eventually kidnapped and held hostage but Dundee saves the day aided by Leroy Brown and his gang. They will eventually head back to Australia because the movie completely lacks any originality. Good photography cannot blindside the fact that this is just a predictable rehash. Director John Cornell manages to make the Australian night sequences effectively haunting but his screenplay is uninspiring. Hogan created Mick Dundee as an interesting case study of humour and culture but here he is basically reciting and so is Kozlowski as his damsel wife. Charles S. Dutton plays the standard issue Leroy Brown. He is amusing but perhaps had the spotlight been on him then maybe there would be something to be benefited. The one role that stood out positively is John Meillon as a friend of Mick's. The role isn't overly broad but he brings humour particularly during a small plot turn involving him aiming a gun at what he believes is the right target. Stephen Root in an early role as a DEA agent and he will thankfully go on to do better things. Low grade sequel should be buried somewhere in the outback. Score: 2 / 10

After the coinage and all round good will generated by the first Crocodile Dundee movie, the sequel was inevitable. This time the formula is reversed as Mick Dundee (Paul Hogan) is forced to take his lady, Sue Charlton (Linda Kozlowski), back to the wilds of Australia in order to protect her from gangsters. There, Mick, with all his Outback skills, starts to pick the gangsters off one by one.Nah. I don't need a gun. I got a Donk!Within the plot structure there are numerous occasions for Dundee inspired jokes and scenarios, where although they are not as strong as in the first movie, they are amusing and not straining for the laugh factor. The genuine chemistry between real life couple Hogan and Kozlowski is evident and keeps the film grounded in warmth. Hogan is such a likable guy, he's a natural at playing the rugged adventurer type, and it's his charisma that rightly drives the picture forward. He throws a great punch as well, very believable.Returning characters like Wally and Donk are reassuring presences, while Charles Dutton as Leroy Brown provides solid comedy foil for Dundee during the New York part of the plot. The Northern Territory of Australia is once again the visual bonus (cinematography again by Russell Boyd), though we never really get the sweeping shots the setting deserves, and Peter Best once again provides an appropriate musical score for the two continent setting without pushing anything new on us. Problems elsewhere? There's a raft of stereotypes, particularly with the Ernie Dingo led villains, while the unoriginality of the story (a rehash of the first film) is a touch frustrating.Not exactly great and not deserving of the ill advised second sequel that followed 13 years later, part 2 of Mick and Sue's adventures is none the less still a fun way to spend an afternoon. 6.5/10

Crocodile Dundee was kinda smart. Crocodile Dundee II was kinda dumb. There is still charm there, but the wit is mostly good. It was one of the many "comedies" that came out between the 80's and 90's that felt the need to turn into violent thrillers. It even seems like a film that was meant to be something else, but the producers decided to cash in on the Dundee name.Hogan is still a hoot and there is some great Aussie scenery, but there isn't much to enjoy in terms of plot. The first one was a surprisingly good romantic comedy. This one is just a forgettable reunion where it's nice to see the friends, but the spread is lame.