The first film was a hoot. This one was more of a shoot.
As long as you're fine with the fact that violence is a big fat joke, and Colin Firth's recovery from violence isn't a big fat joke, you won't be offended by installment one or two.
The first was understated - to a degree - and when overstated explained it away through comparisons to James Bond films - very cleverly in the coup de grâce from Samuel L to Colin F. There's irony all the way through the first film.
Like a lot of sequels the second film leaves out understating in favour of overstating.
I'm guessing the first one cost $50 million and the second one double that, $100 million.
Other than Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Firth and a small role for Michael Caine, I think Mark Hamill's the next biggest star, as the professor in #1, although Jack Davenport's appearance at the start - as a super-agent - is a fabulous twist in the opening sequence.
#2 boasts a - I can finally use this word in a really good context - plethora of stars, some who only appear for a few scenes, and some who appear in a lot of scenes.
This is my theory on casting, as pitched to the actor's agents:
"Look guys, our first film made $400 million worldwide but only about a $100 million in America, so we're going to set the next one in America, and it will do double the business. Our idea is to stack it full of big-name stars, and we'll give a bonus of 1% of box office gross in the U.S. on every ticket sold. How many days can I get with <insert star's name > for $1 million plus 1% of gross?
Channing Tatum said five days, "but I'm starting another film the day after tomorrow, so you'll probably have to put me in a cryo-freeze for most of the film. Hey, I can do English, what about this for an English accent? - I'll even wear a suit - I swear - if I'm gonna star in the next one, right? I can even throw in a few words with my accent, like 'who is this tosser?' But, Oh! Oh! Can we squeeze in a bit of soft-shoe-shuffle or a dance number, you know, when I'm going crazy?"
Halle Berry said ten days
Julianne Moore said ten days
Jeff Bridges said three days
Michael Gambon said four hours, "But I get paid whatever Mickey got paid for the first one. And that's a deal. But, no special make-up. No crumbly skin. I'm a regular person wearing a suit and tie or it's ixs-nay on the eal-day. Ight-ray?"
Emily Watson said, "I'll do it for free."
Bruce Greenwood said, "You're joking! I'll send up George W. for nothing. I love playing American Presidents. Actually, I will take the money! I'm not Jeff Bridges for christssakes! I need the money."
Elton John said four days (he doesn't need the money but is keen to promote his back catalogue), with one rider, "It is conditional that I must be required to say or scream f*** at someone every time I'm on screen. It'll be funny, right? Really hilarious, right? It's not live, right? There's no children watching!")
The above article written by Philip Powers is protected by copyright and under Fair Use, 10% of it may be quoted or reproduced if properly credited, in another work. It may not be reproduced in its entirety in any form without the written consent of the author.