by Joe Hammerschmidt
At the beginning of the millennium, the maverick Broken Lizard comedy troupe entered the public conversation, when their second film, the breakout hit Super Troopers debuted at Sundance, ahead of a rampant cult following that set precedent for their projects since. In viewing the original for the first time mere hours before screening what to its most ardent fans is a long overdue second act, there is far too much proof the original adventure has aged poorly, with a manner of crude jokes and cheap jabs at reputable police organizations. Super Troopers 2 is no different, except with a more inviting story that gives it a larger sense of freshness.
However, you wouldn’t know it off the bat. The film opens with a decisively awkward fantasy sequence wherein former inept cops Thorny (Jay Chandrasekhar), Farva (Kevin Hefferman), Rabbit (Erik Stolhanske), Mac (Steve Lemme), and Foster (Paul Soter) suddenly have struck gold as an alt-rock combo, pulling the slip on a pair of cameo-friendly cops who were once in their shoes. One wishes that’s what really did happen with them. The plot simply catches up with the besties, still unemployed three months after their cozy Vermont highway patrol outpost was dismantled by state government. Yet, when a legal loophole opens up an inclusion of surface area that was once land in the wilderness of Quebec, the former troopers, and aging Captain O’Hagen (Brian Cox) are invited to return to work to ease the transition of the added land out of RCMP jurisdiction. The three mounties, two of them born Canadians for authenticity despite the stereotypical accents, of course blindly object on the basis of cultural disagreement. Mayor Guy LeFranc (an ironically enjoyable Rob Lowe) is striving the keep the peace between both countries, even when his own bureaucratic shortfalls get into his point of focus, mostly through the form of an underground drug smuggling racket. The days leading up to what would be an amicable exchange turns into an all-out high school prank war as Podien (Hayes McArthur), Bellefuille (Tyler Labine), and Archambault (Will Sasso) push for a complete return to full Canadian symbolism, while the troopers just aim to hold down their new jobs by any means necessary.
Much of the humor derives from that culture shock dynamic, coupled with the overwhelming sense of middle school rudeness, sex jokes, and of course, plenty of appropo drug paraphernalia. As a newb into the realm of the Lizards, I’m unfamiliar with the distinctions the troupe (led by director Chandrasekhar) would aim for with each follow-up film, yet this writer would find attacking them all a small waste at this juncture. There’s simply no distinguishing one film from the other in terms of its tone, style, or penchant for lampooning on the larger merits of societal law. If anything is working in this sequel’s favor, its topicality suddenly appears a little fresher. The tendency of warring in a figurative sense with another country, a daily occurrence. Exposure to pharmaceutical contraband, just as. Taking shots to our northern neighbors, of course they need to be done right in order to be funny. The lizards really spare no expense, upping the ante right through to the troopers stealing their uniforms, thickening the accents and driving passing wanderers to insanity.
Simultaneously, much of the down-to-earth, in-your-face humor which made the original ST a rousing favorite with audiences is all on display, though its consistency isn’t as strong as one would hope. The legendary Jim Gaffigan cameo returns, for one; that was very appreciated. Many go-to tendencies between the officers aren’t necessarily revived for nostalgia, more for mechanical purposes to keep the film chugging along. I suspect the Lizards only proceeded onward, not allowing the past to catch up with them, a highly admirable choice.
Focusing on the future health of a franchise is more important, and the new crop of Canadian characters, of course all bearing the grunt of stereotyping, assists that end of the spectrum. The mountie trio is good for a few yuks, especially Sasso, the former MadTV star who always did right by his character-driven roles. Lowe once again astonishes away from his comfort zone (or lack thereof), struggling to hold the strings together as the deal closes. It can often be seen in his face, how much it’s imploding. And there’s a new Quebecois ambassador, Genevieve (Emmanuel Chiriqui), who admittedly steals Rabbit’s heart. Persuasive, go-getting, and never backing down, her tenacity, without falling too far into convention doesn’t hesitate to keep the rest of the gang in line.
The realm of Broken Lizard has at long last reached full circle, and fans will be singing its praises all the way through. Newcomers are urged to watch the original first, and possibly wait to rent. Super Troopers 2, like its predecessor, won’t have much of an instant impact on our pop culture, give it a year or two, let it build its lore on TV first. The casting remains the same, writing a little fresher, and music a little more unique; having seen Eagles of Death Metal live in concert earlier this year, their commitment toward a project is always felt in every note performed. And at least we can say while America another serious war with a nation capable of destroying civilian lives, we could take solace in a waged war of wits with a understandably unlikely enemy. When it strives to work, there is simply no stopping comedic progress. (C)
Super Troopers 2 opens in most area theaters this weekend; rated R for crude sexual content and language throughout, drug material and some graphic nudity; 100 minutes.
