Review of Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993) by Dave H — 22 Jun 2008

Hot Shots was one of the funniest movies ever made, setting a very high bar for the sequel. Does it pass muster? Well, yes and no.

Although this is a sequel, it doesn't really "follow on" from Hot Shots. Rather they've taken Topper, Romana and Admiral (now President) Benson and given them a score of new ways to make you laugh.

Naturally, some of the jokes are reworkings of Hot Shots jokes, but these are mostly Lloyd Bridges' prosthetic body parts, and that was always a running joke anyway. They even poke fun at themselves, with Topper quipping "Do you have any idea what the critics will say? Same worn-over characters...".

Well, that may be true, but when said worn-over characters are pant-wettingly funny, it's no bad thing. There's a larger role for Ryan Stiles (of Whose Line Is It Anyway fame) and a cameo for Rowan Atkinson. It's hard to have a favourite moment, but I'd go for either:

"I see you are no stranger to pain".

"I've been married. Twice.".

Or.

"What are you reading?".

"Great Expectations".

"Is it any good?".

"It's not all I hoped for".

So, is it as funny as Hot Shots? No. But just because the girl in the club isn't a stunning as Kkeira Knightley, that doesn't mean she isn't worth a look. Or two. Or ten .D.