Director: Jay Chandrasekhar
Runtime: 100 minutes
Let’s face it. The original Super Troopers was absolutely ridiculous, so what more would you expect from its sequel? With a plot that is highly dependent on shenanigans and hi-jinx, I walked into Super Troopers Two ready for the insanity and I wasn’t disappointed. Does that mean it was good? Not necessarily. The original film certainly was no masterpiece, but if you know what you’re going to be subjected to, it does no more and no less.The same cast from the original film joins together again for another adventure as highway patrol officers (who knew it could be fun, eh?) whose over-arching goal is to receive a little respect and recognition as law enforcers.
As a half Canadian, I didn’t realise what a beating I would get as I walked into the cinema. The original film, while still set near the Canadian border, focussed more so on internal disputes between the highway patrol and the local Police Department. However, Super Troopers Two brings our characters over the border and into Canadian soil as a border dispute has declared a small town to actually belong to America. Our five ‘heroes’ are given the task to help with the transition as the disputed area changes from Canadian to American. With a long history of angst, the Canadians (while lovely and apologetic as always) are less than impressed by these American law enforcers as they are told to embrace the red, white and blue.
Not only was it absolutely filled to the brim with ‘sorry’ Canadian jokes, but this film does a great job of not taking itself too seriously as it combines a mixture of ‘skits’ and physical comedy. As a French speaker, I also felt like this film was out to get me as the French Canadians are also torn apart and mocked throughout the entire film.
For me, in the original film, nothing could beat the famous ‘meow’ scene that takes place on a highway patrol stakeout. In Super Troopers Two, they had an equally excellent scene where the Troopers are impersonating the Canadian Mounted Police and having a very hilarious fight in ‘French’ and confusing their American victims. Not only was this scene enjoyable because of their comedic timing, but it felt like the joke was written for me as I laughed over their French vocabulary and the ridiculousness of their understanding of Canada.
As the film progressed, a few jokes fell flat for me. Some moments of the film felt tacked on and contrived rather than unexpected and natural humour. Some of the scenarios seemed extremely random and almost like its own comedy segment, removed from the film. One said scene, between the Canadians while watching the hockey playoffs, received a laugh from me but it seemed like its own mini story and removed entirely from the rest of the film.
At the end of the film, I did feel that Super Troopers Two definitely has a particular audience and demographic. Riddled with jokes about Canada, I felt that international audiences watching this film could still enjoy it, but their enjoyment would be somewhat limited as some of the jokes delved deeper than simple stereotypes. The humour in relation to the French was also something that may ostracise audience members who have no idea about the language. American humour is relatively similar to that of the rest of the world, but with the added inclusion of Canada and French-Canadian culture, it makes some moments feel awkward and humourless.
Overall, as a sequel, it does not disappoint. If you enjoyed Super Troopers, you will definitely enjoy and laugh a few times during Super Troopers Two—just be prepared to leave your serious brain at home and enjoy some mindless entertainment.
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