Review of Basic Instinct 2 (2006) by Kenneth H — 25 Dec 2010

Wow, this was definitely an unnecessary sequel. Actually, ANY sequel would've been unnecessary, as the first one ended on exactly the right note, but to make matters worse they had to make this sequel lame and dumb. Plot-wise, it's a total rehash of the first one, with the same general plot outlines, until the end, when it deviates into the realm of sheer, incredible stupidity. It really is incredibly stupid how easily manipulated everyone, especially the main Catherine Tramell victim Michael Glass, is, and how this movie does it with no class at all. In the first one Tramell's machinations were done with subtlety, flair, and, most importantly and appropriately for someone who knows all about the principle of suspension of disbelief, plausibility. In this one, her machinations are blunt and clumsy and dumb, with everyone seeming to believe what she says merely because she said it. Suspension of disbelief? Consider my disbelief to be UNsuspended and in full force!

Unlike the first film, this one doesn't even have the redeeming quality of having loads of sex and nudity, and perhaps for good reason - Sharon Stone isn't that hot anymore, and the idea of anyone becoming sexually enamored with a forty-something year old hag with a gross husky voice from years of chain smoking is a tad unbelievable, even by this film's standards.