Flying High II

A faulty computer causes a passenger space shuttle to head straight for the Sun. Can Ted Striker (Robert Hays) save the day and get the shuttle back on track -- again??? Also, can he defeat an impotent Sonny Bono with a time bomb? Check out this amazing list of cast and cameos: Rip Torn, William Shatner, Chuck Connors, Raymond Burr, Peter Graves, Lloyd Bridges, John Vernon. Now, how can that possibly be bad? (Okay, so Leslie Nielsen is not listed.) If you liked the first film, you will like the second. Maybe it was not directed by the same guys, but the writing style and jokes are very much the same, as is most of the cast. This truly is a sequel in every sense -- the logical continuation of part one.

I find it hard to understand how someone can take a classic like 'Airplane!' and follow it up with this crap. Basically a rehash of the first genius film, 'Airplane II' recycles the same old jokes over and the few new ones that are there fall flat on their face. If you don't want to taint your enjoyment of Airplane! then skip this turkey.

Ken Finkleman takes over as writer/director with the departure of Jim Abrahams and David Zucker. The movie recycles a lot of the jokes from the first movie. The main differences are that they're going into space, Leslie Nielsen is only in archival footage, and there is a bit of nudity. Striker (Robert Hays) escapes from the loonie bin to come rescue Elaine (Julie Hagerty) on the inaugural flight of the space shuttle Mayflower. Captain Oveur (Peter Graves) is piloting the shuttle, and Striker is forced to fly the plane once again. The repeating of many of the jokes from the first movie is probably very necessary. The style of the franchise hasn't changed. I do like the new joke of Striker's drinking problem. However, the freshness of the original isn't there anymore.

Having said that however, I don't think this film is as bad as some other reviewers have stated. Sure they re-hash a lot of stuff from the first movie, but hey! It's still funny right? I think this movie has a lot going for it. Some of the jokes fall flat, but some are hilarious. You've just got to take the rough with the smooth.

It's silly, it's stupid, it's dumb and it is hilarious. Enter Ted Striker once again to save the day. This time he has to save a space shuttle which is heading straight for the sun. Can he do it? Of course he can, he is TED STRIKER!!! He tells story that no one wants to hear, he sweats a lot, he has a drinking problem, and he is the best darn pilot alive. You have to be in the mood for a silly film for this to work for you. There are a lot of spoofs and word game humor in this movie and it is all good. My favorite part of the movie is when he sees the open door which says. "danger: Vacuum" The music is also great, which i learned is from Battlestar Galactica from 1978. So get that popcorn and your coke, but be careful. It might just come out your nose while watching. I rate this movie 6/10

Yes, many of the gags do seem to have come out of the recycling bin. It's still a fairly funny film anyway. It's literally jam-packed with jokes (sometimes two or three are running on simultaneously, in the same frame) and if you don't like one, chances are it will be followed by a better one after only a few seconds. And the acting by almost everyone is very good; they never slip out of their characters. (**1/2)