Movie Review - Super Troopers 2

Super Troopers 2 *** (out of 5) (R) As a reminder, my ratings aren’t always about the overall artistic merit of the covered film. In the case of intentionally dumb, gross comedies like this, or other niche fare, I tend to award stars on how good a job they do in making the sort of product they’re offering. In that spirit, the hilarious action spoof Machete, ranks among my all-time faves, while it’s disappointing sequel fared worse. Good crap deserves praise for rising above badly-made crap, whether action, horror or lowbrow comedy. Junk food can be tasty, too.

So those who enjoyed the slapstick and other adolescent antics of this batch of goofy Vermont state troopers in the 2001 original should find satisfaction in their new “adventure”. This time they’re tasked with endearing themselves to the locals in a chunk of rural Canada that’s being ceded to the US for some inane reason. Things go badly with the Mounties they’re replacing, most of the Canadians, who prefer their current citizenship to ours and what seems to be a sizable smuggling operation.

All the boys from the first flick are back, including Jay Chandrasekhar and Kevin Heffernan again working both sides of the camera as co-stars and co-writers, with the former also directing. This script adds a bit of politics to the mix, with plenty of verbal shots flying in both directions about the pros and cons of each country’s government, customs and tastes.

If you didn’t see the first one, don’t worry about missing nuances of the backstories. Expect something between the Porky’s and Jackass realms. That means leave your intellect in the car, and settle in for the guilty pleasure of laughing at stuff that’s meant to gratify your inner teenager. It’s thematically suited to its 4/20 opening date, wherever such indulgence is legal...or wished for. (4/20/18)