I love me some sequels. I love them when they’re done well; I love them when they’re cheesy. Heck, I even love them when they’re downright sacrilegious. There’s just something about the idea of “getting the band back together” that makes me smile. Sometimes it’s because I know the entire cast hates each other, but they all need a hit. Sometimes it’s because I know they all got paid a truckload of money.
(Money sequels make for great drinking games. For example, in Scary Movie 4, drink every time Anna Faris looks like she wants to kill her agent for convincing her to sign up for a THIRD sequel to this crappy movie franchise. That girl was in Brokeback Mountain. She deserves better.)
And sometimes, it’s because the cast and crew had such a good time making the original movie that they wanted to do it all again. These are my favorite sequels to watch because the joy is written all over everyone’s faces. Let’s face it, most stars look bored on screen. They get that look in their eyes whenever it’s not their coverage, that look that says “Wait, do I get paid tomorrow? I’m gonna buy me some DVD’s. Or a hooker.” But when actors look like they’re having fun, it makes you have fun. Ocean’s Twelve may have sucked great big donkey balls, but you have to admit, it was kind of cool seeing everyone try to hide their smiles. And avoid Catherine Zeta-Jones (Could there have been any more love loss between Clooney and CZJ? That Intolerable Cruelty set must have been some picnic).
So with my big fat love for all things sequel, color me thrilled to find that most every studio is now licensing out their successful brands to make cheap Direct-To-DVD sequels. Yeah, it’s a little bit like whoring out your own children. And yeah, it kind of takes a great piece of entertainment and cheapens its legacy, but look on the bright side, at least it keeps the Eddie Furlong’s and C. Thomas Howell's of the world off the streets. What would you rather have, a boring, run of the mill life where we never get to see the further adventures of Beethoven the Dog or Air Bud, or would you like to have a life filled with three American Pie sequels and nine Police Academy movies? Yeah, that’s what I thought.
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Article comments
1 - Eric Berlin
Great stuff Jay, the thought of Mikey getting desperate-like on MySpace is hilarious !
2 - Jason Matthews
Thanks for the kind words, Eric. I'd pay any amount of money to see that movie. Too bad it'll never happen. Mikey bloated up, quit acting and started directed lame kids movies. And Vince Vaughn is too busy nursing Jen Aniston's broken heart to return to his roots. So I guess Swingers 2 will only live on in the digital world. Que sira sira...
3 - Eric Berlin
Made is the closest thing to a Swingers sequel -- it's a damned good movie, definitely gets better on the second viewing.
4 - Jason Matthews
Wedding Crashers is a spirital sequel, as well. Vince was definitely playing Trent in that one.
You're right about Made. It takes a few viewing before Vince stops grating on you, but then you just appreciate how dry and funny it is. And then you have to accept the fact that P. Diddy is doing a good job. There's a lot to reconcile about Made, but still a good movie.
5 - Michael J. West
I once heard a suggestion for Rocky III, Part 2, in which Mr. T (as Clubber Lang) comes back and steals Adrienne from Rocky.
This time, as you might imagine, it's personal.
6 - Jason Matthews
My prediction for that movie: Pain.
7 - Eric Berlin
Yes, P Diddy was rather good in Made, as were all the people from The Sopranos who were in it.
8 - Sandra
8 More Days A Week-the ending you've imagined- That was too funny. Keri Russell should do more movies. No one is as beautiful as she is!