Airplane II: The Sequel *** (1982, Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Lloyd Bridges) – Classic Movie Review 672

The underrated 1982 sequel to 1980’s blockbuster spoof comedy hit Airplane! is cruder and it isn’t nearly as hysterical, but it’s still funny and enjoyable none the less.

It boasts the inestimable advantage of many of the same actors and gags as Airplane!, though there’s a different writer-director in Ken Finkleman, making his début and the less-effortful lunacy of the Zucker Brothers David and Jerry and Jim Abrahams is much missed.

This time the flight-scared ex-pilot Ted Striker (Robert Hays), who saved the day first time round, captains a passenger space shuttle on what turns out to be a bit of a bumpy ride to the Moon. Unfortunately, a faulty computer causes the shuttle to head straight for the Sun. Obviously, it’s up to Ted to try to save the day again if his demons will let him.

In the performances and in Finkleman’s screenplay there’s a good score of laughs, but the movie is tackier and the jokes are less hilarious.

The slightly clumsy screenplay is lifted up by delightful turns again from Hays as Ted Striker, Julie Hagerty as his air stewardess girlfriend Elaine, Lloyd Bridges as the batty, clumsy air traffic controller, Stephen Stucker as his assistant and Peter Graves as the paedophile pilot Captain Oveur (‘do you like gladiator movies, son, ever seen a man naked?).

This time they’re joined by William Shatner (as Buck Murdoch), Chad Everett, Sonny Bono, Raymond Burr, Chuck Connors and Rip Torn.

However, hit turns from the last time Leslie Nielsen as Dr Rumack and Robert Stack as Rex Kramer are much missed, though.

Expectations were so high for another sequel that it was promised at the end of the credits for this one. But when the film had mediocre box office, Airplane III was doomed.

The Zucker Brothers David and Jerry and Jim Abrahams have never seen this film. They initially agreed to a sequel to Airplane! but later balked at the idea. The movie went ahead without their permission and despite their protests, and they refused ever to watch it. Shame.

The theme music used in this movie is from the TV series Battlestar Galactica (1978). Finkleman also directed Grease 2 that year (1982).

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