Review of Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993) by Kirsty P — 04 Sep 2010

Hot Shots! Part Deux excels in stupidity. With Jim Abrahams nothing is safe from parody, including end credits.

The first hour or so of Hot Shots! Part Deux is typical, anything goes, stupid, funny, dumb random, fill-the-screen-with-gags Abrhaams and co. After that, it gets into heavy parody of Rambo and similar action movies. I have no doubt whatsoever that this film has gained significance in the past years, because it's jokes predate many of the films it makes fun of. It makes no difference when this film was made and when the films it parodies came out, it's funny regardless. Granted, you absolutely neeeed to see those films to appreciate this, but it's still a great parody.

It's pointless to explain the plot, as that would ruin many a silly joke, but Hot Shots! Part Deux gloriously takes advantage of being a sequel, a parody of Hollywood action films, and being a complete fantasy. If you like grade-school jokes, you will laugh. If you like obvious parodies, you will laugh. If you like smart parodies, you will laugh. Abrahams and his team (particularly in the last half hour or so) fill this film with so many jokes, gags and references that it is impossible not to find something to giggle or scream aloud about. The last thirty minutes is absolutely masterfully silly, it reaches (in ways that surpass Airplane!) levels of hilarity that you have to see to believe.

Hot Shots! Part Deux must been seen to be believed. Be Forewarned however: extensive action movie knowledge is essential to viewing, and although the greatest moment of the first film (Hot Shots!) is repeated (a hilarious Lady and the Tramp parody), you owe it to yourself to watch them both. This film manages to be funny in every way, something I think only Abrahams may be able to pull-off without making me feel like I've wasted 90 minute of my life.

This is a film that film buffs will either revel in or hate. But hey, humor is relative.