Susan Granger’s review of “Super Troopers 2” (Fox Searchlight)
It’s no secret why Jay Chandrasekhar’s stoner sequel was released on April 20th. To marijuana users, that date is considered an international holiday, particularly since pot is now legal in nine states.
After “Super Troopers” became a 2001 cult hit, the five-man Colgate University sketch comedy squad known as Broken Lizard kept trying, but their “Club Dread,” “Beerfest” and “The Slammin’ Salmon” never quite hit the mark. So they launched a crowd-funding campaign, raising $4.7 million for yet another try.
This time, having lost their jobs as Vermont Highway Patrolmen, they go to work in construction. But when historians discover that Vermont’s northern border was drawn incorrectly, encompassing part of Quebec, the Governor (Lynda Carter) realizes she needs French-speaking reinforcements.
Summoned by their long-suffering boss, Capt. O’Hagan (Brian Cox), the previously disgraced guys are eager to accept this transitional job, setting up headquarters in a log-cabin.
Although the nearest town’s Mayor Guy LeFranc (Rob Lowe) is cordial, most French-Canadians are not exactly welcoming. A trio of Mounties (Tyler Labine, Will Sasso, Hayes MacArthur) are particularly antagonistic. A series of pranks ensues between the lawmen, culminating in the Yanks impersonating Canucks.
Somewhere along the way, they manage to bust a mysterious local drug-and-gun smuggling ring. And there’s an absurd romantic hook-up between the former rookie Rabbit (Erik Stolhanske) and cultural attaché Genevieve (Emmanuelle Chriqui). Plus an on-going gag about Danny DeVito, who executive produced the original but, apparently, never bothered to go to see it.
Director/co-star Jay Chandrasekhar and his co-writers/co-stars Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter and Erik Stolhanske keep the decidedly un-funny, drug-addled action rolling along, accompanied by an excessive, audibly grating rock soundtrack and far too many sexist and homophobic references.
FYI: Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong made “Up in Smoke,” the first stoner comedy. After that came “Pineapple Express,” “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle,” Ice Cube’s “Friday,” “Neighbors” and “We’re the Millers,” among others.
On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Super Troopers 2” is a stale, fume-filled 2. Yup, you could get a contact high just by sitting in the theater.
