Super Troopers 2 (2018)

“Super Troopers 2” stars Jay Chandrasekhar, Paul Soter, Steve Lemme, Erik Stolhanske, Kevin Heffernan, Brian Cox, and Marisa Coughlan.  Released on April 20, 2018, the film has the wacky state troopers attempting to set up a new Highway Patrol station in Canada.

The film is directed by Jay Chandrasekhar, who also directed films such as Club Dread, The Dukes of Hazzard, Beerfest, and The Babymakers.  It is a sequel to the 2001 comedy film, “Super Troopers”, also directed by Chandrasekhar.  Yes, we are getting another long-awaited comedy sequel this year because it worked so well with the other ones.  “Super Troopers” is one of those types of films that rely on gags rather than substance, but wind up being surprisingly enjoyable.  I only managed to watch the whole thing of the first film just so I can understand the concept of the sequel.  All I can say about it is that it had its moments, but it’s far from perfect.  So now we are getting a highly-anticipated follow-up to a comedy that’s a huge hit from audiences, but a miss from the critics, thanks to its highly successful crowdfunding campaign.  Was it worth the wait?  Let’s find out right meow.

For those who are unfamiliar with the first film, "Super Troopers" mainly focuses on a group of state troopers pulling some mean pranks on each other, their competitors, and the people that they pulled over. During those shenanighans, they wound up having to solve a case that may lead to some ridiculous results.  For the sequel, they pretty much do the same thing, but with canadians. It's fine for those who don't mind taking a raunchy trip down memory lane, but it can also wind up being the film's massive downfall. When you look at long-awaited sequels to certain comedies, they came up with plots that were fresh enough to continue their predecessors' storylines while maintaining their comedy styles. For "Super Troopers 2", they have their usual sense of humor that Broken Lizard is known for, but it felt like they grew so fond of the first film's plot that they have to recycle it for the sequel. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? As the result, the film becomes a noticeable retread of what worked 17 years ago, which may not bode well in this day and age. Not only was the story disappointing, but the humor was surprisingly a huge downer for me. Aside from a couple of laughable moments, like the bear in the station scene, its humor was really stale, very tiring, and a little bit offensive. It also doesn't help when the film's series of gags overshadows its storytelling and character development. I know that the first film is only made for laughs, but if you're actually making it for people who are unfamilier with the concept from its predecessor, they should at least provide something more than just a bunch of guys pulling pranks. Coming from a guy who has a strange sense of humor, I was actually expecting it to be a lot more funnier.  On a more positive note, the cast looked like that they were having fun putting this film together for their fans, even though the result wasn't as hilarious as I thought it would be.

Overall, "Super Troopers 2" feels more like a gift to its loyal fanbase rather than a genuine comedy sequel.  The Broken Lizard gang did well in supporting its fans, but if their goal is to introduce the brand to a new generation, I'm afraid I'm going to have to say that they came up really short.  Its recycled plot, underwhelming humor, and lack of character depth makes this long-awaited sequel one of the most disappointing comedies of the decade.  I apologize to all of the fans of Super Troopers if this review isn't to your liking, but that's exactly how I feel during my first viewing.   

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