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GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH (1990) Director: Joe Dante Hacktors: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Christopher Lee, Dick Miller. Rating/5: The lowdown: Gremlins is a much loved, highly succesful film that was made during Stephen Spielberg's mid-Eighties midas period as a producer. Gremlins 2 is the much less successful, highly criticised sequel which killed the franchise. The fact that both films shared the same key personnel - director Dante, Spielberg and effects genius Rick Baker, not to mention the main cast from the first film - begs the question of why this film was so poorly received. Is it ripe for rediscovery on DVD? While the first film was a darkly humourous and at times sadistic affair for what was essentially a kids film, the sequel is a very broad comedy that showcases Dante's love of sight gags and filmic references. Good points: Gremlins 2 begins with a cartoon. Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck argue over the Warner Brothers sign, which is an entirely appropriate beginning for what is essentially a live action cartoon. Any attempt to replicate the slow build up of tension, so effective in the original, is jettisoned as we are quickly thrown into establishing the new storyline.     Billy and Kate are now living in New York and both work at Chance Towers, a very transparent dig at Donald Trump's entrepreneurial efforts. When Gizmo is conveniently taken to the very same Tower to be experimented on by some scientists, the set up is complete. Cue Gremlin rampage!     This one is an out-and-out comedy, which fortunately proves to be very funny throughout, especially for the eagle-eyed film fan. With sight gags too numerous to list, you will constantly be ticking off the filmic references. The cast is made up of a number of genre favourites as well, and the performances are solid throughout. Gizmo steals the show whenever he is on screen, as is to be expected, while the bigger budget gives the effects team ample opportunity to impress with some amazing puppet work. Bad points: In terms of mood and subtlety, well, this just doesn't have any! It is a non-stop barrage of jokes and Gremlin antics, which sadly can be a bit juvenile at times. The character designs of the 'evil' Gremlins highlight this perfectly, as they are all completly goofy and funny-looking. While this is intentional and suits the mood of the film, I missed the nastier edge that the original film had. Also Gizmo is strangely underused, as the focus is on the huge array of new Gremlins created when they raid the scientists' lab and ingest a weird mix of mutating chemicals. As a completely different film in mood and tone, this is perhaps an example of a sequel straying too far from its original successful elements and alienating its fan base as a result. DVD Details: The DVD reviewed is the Region 1 Warner Brothers disk. It has a widescreen digital transfer with a remastered soundtrack in both Dolby Digital 5.1 or Dolby Surround 2.0. While not calling itself a special edition the disk has loads of extra features including deleted scenes, directors commentary, a documentary, gag reel, trailer and more. It also has an easter egg showing a slightly different version of the film. Overall: Gremlins 2 is an often hilarious comedy that should entertain most film fans. While certain elements of the original are missed, and some new elements grate a little, taken as a whole this is a loud, colourful romp that pays homage to classic movies from all genres in its ceaseless attempts to make you laugh. Not all the gags work, true, but if the riffs on Marathon Man, Rambo and Leonard Maltin don't make you laugh out loud then your a cold hearted film fan and should maybe stick to watching gloomy Ingmar Bergman flicks! Release Date: Out now in the United States as a single disc or in the UK as a double pack with the original film. Reviewer: Jon Kelly. [Check it out at Amazon US as a single disc] [Check it out at Amazon UK in the double-pack] [Reviews Menu] [Home] © Copyright Slasherama 2002-present