Hot Shots: Part Deux - So much silly fun

Aliens, Empire Strikes Back, The Godfather Part II, Terminator 2, Hot Shots: Part Deux.' Yes, that's a strange final entry into that list of recognised classic movies.  However, it deserves to be alongside the others for one reason - it's a sequel that's widely regarded as one that's actually better than the original (no offense to 'Alien!').

There's been a wave in recent years of movies that are simple parodies of one (or a mash-up of multiple similar stories) film.  Recently, you can tell the type as they traditionally end in '…Movie,' i.e. 'Date Movie, Scary Movie, Disaster Movie.' These basically take the plot to an original film and then add prat-falls and fart jokes to the script and pass it off as a comedy.  These can be hit or miss (and mainly miss lately!), but the humour and style of film can arguably be traced back to the 'Airplane' films of the eighties (when it was actually original and funny!).  Then came the two 'Hot Shots' films which were the brainchild behind the 'Airplane' franchise and could possibly be the last great spoof/parody films made.

The original 'Hot Shots' film was a blatantly spoof of 'Top Gun,' whereas the sequel is clearly based on a 'Rambo' movie (and similar 80s action blockbusters where one man takes on an entire army).  Here, Charlie Sheen reprises his role as Topper Harley to go to Iraq and save a load of American hostages from - then the go-to 'bad guy' - Saddam Hussain.

Everything here is 'played straight' and every actor has a 'deadpan expression' as the gags are delivered.  And the gags do come thick and fast.  It seemed that 'Hot Shots: Part Deux' actually had a go at parodying the genre, rather than relying on jokes based around bodily functions and people falling over.  Of course you don't have to have watched a load of action movies to appreciate the silliness of this film.  It's light-hearted and, although some of the more 'pop culture-related' jokes haven't aged well (I wonder what the youth of today will make of the 'Gladiator' visual gag near the end of the film?) most still land (including the much hyped 'chicken gag').

Sadly, these days most people can't think of Charlie Sheen without recalling his - rather public - meltdown, so the 'Hot Shots' films are a prime example of him in his heyday.  Not only was he absolutely beefed up to play this part physically, his comic timing was perfect and he totally carries this film, almost to the detriment of his co-stars.  Valeria Golino is the 'love interest' and also plays every joke in the same deadpan way and yet doesn't come off quite as comfortable in doing so as Sheen.  There are other characters in the film, but they're kind of wasted as they only get a few good lines here and there (Miguel Ferrer and Ryan Stiles).  The only other two actors who are really allowed to shine are Lloyd Bridges and Rowan Atkinson whose screen-time amounts to mere extended cameos.

Ultimately, if you like your spoof/parody movies then this is as good today as it ever was.  It's the perfect movie to relax your brain to and it's a shame that Sheen probably isn't in a good way to ever go about turning the two movies into a trilogy.

8/10 The Force is definitely strong with this one