Ferry 2

A sequel we probably didn't need but somehow got anyway. Ferry Bouman, the charismatic anti-hero who muscled his way out of the Undercover series and into his own spin-off, is back to grace us with another jaunt through Belgium's underworld. The man who stole the spotlight from the painfully dull policeman "Bob", proving once and for all that crime does, in fact, pay - until it doesn't. We watched Ferry's rise and inevitable fall, losing everything, including his so-called "kingdom." And by "kingdom," I mean a scrappy camping ground with his equally scrappy wife Danielle. But credit where it's due - Frank Lammers lends Ferry a tragic, almost Shakespearean credibility, even when surrounded by beer cans and bad decisions.

This time around, our likeable loser has retired to sunny Spain, the go-to destination for washed-up European criminals to live once more in the unglamourous confines of a caravan, until it gets trashed by his niece Jezebel. (And no, I didn't make that name up - apparently, the Dutch did.) Jezebel, who is technically the daughter of Ferry's late niece drags her boyfriend along for the ride and demands Uncle Ferry's help with a little "business issue." Just your everyday problem of delivering ecstasy pills to a psychopathic drug dealer. Because nothing says "family bonding" like a high-stakes drug deal.

In today's cinematic era of girl bosses, Jezebel is barely tolerable, being believable as white trash and moderately annoying. But the plot plays out like a greatest hits compilation of crime thriller clichés. The order for pills is miraculously ready (of course), only to be derailed by predictable backstabbing and double-crossing. And just for kicks, there's the looming family secret: Jezebel doesn't know what happened between Ferry and her father, which is sure to rear its melodramatic head at the worst possible moment.

Is Ferry 2 as bad as some reviewers here claimed? Not quite. Lammers brings his A-game, portraying Ferry as a broken, sardonic has-been who still manages to be oddly sympathetic. The bleak Flemish landscape adds its usual dose of gloom and general despair. It's not brilliant cinema, but it's not a total trainwreck either. It's a dark, messy, slightly depressing crime movie that coasts on Lammers' charm and Ferry's razor-thin likability. Not great, but at least it's better than camping with Bob.

PS and if they plan to make yet another spin-off with Jez as main character I'll definitely bail out.

Ferry the serie had so many good actors and a fitting storyline. From there the level start to decline. Now in Ferry 2 we see that Frank Lammers is not able to carry the entire movie. So many good characters have been cut out of the series/movie such a shame. Bad storyline where a bunch of bad acting kids with the same behaviour in a dangerous world. Everything is tattered and now they like so many other follow ups after succes. Nowhere has been searched for the deepness. I really think this is a missed opportunity. If they put a little bit more experienced actors in the movie Frank would be able to make it legend again.

I enjoyed the series and the first movie. I started watching this and knew within 7 minutes that this was going to be a disappointment. Boy I was not wrong.

1. Niece-having a niece fine. Having someone around that only serves as plot armor in providing stupidity to keep the story going...not good. Remember the Las Vegas zombie movie where Dave Bautisa daughter got everyone killed? Yes, this niece is the same and for some stupid reason she is a primary focus.

2. Random characters, no consistent plotline, dumb Hallmark moments that does nothing to propel the story and horrendous score/music being played during all action scenes tells you about everything you need to know.

The film Ferry 2 fails to capture the charm and strength that made the Undercover series and the first Ferry movie so beloved. The storyline feels completely disconnected, with little to no relation to the original plot. What remains is an overused concept that comes across as forced rather than innovative.

One of the film's major weaknesses is its casting. The younger actors, particularly Aiko Beemsterboer, deliver performances that are unconvincing and shallow, making every scene she's in feel artificial. Similarly, Jonas Smulders, who plays the rival mob boss, is a poor casting choice. His character lacks the intensity and menace expected of a crime boss, leaving no lasting impression.

The script and direction also fall short. The final scenes are so implausible that they feel entirely out of place within the story. While the previous installments maintained a certain level of realism and suspense, Ferry 2 comes across as a failed attempt to keep the franchise alive.

Overall, Ferry 2 is a letdown. Fans of the series and the first film will likely find this sequel disappointing and disjointed. Sometimes, it's better to end a story on a high note rather than milk it dry and lose what made it special in the first place.

After the success of the original series and the first spin-off movie, Ferry 2 feels like a bad trip-or worse, an overdose-in multiple ways. What could have been a worthy continuation of an intriguing storyline instead devolves into a poorly executed cash grab that leaves me (and apparently other fans) disillusioned.

The casting of the co-lead characters is, quite frankly, appalling. There's little chemistry or believability in their performances, which only serves to magnify the shallowness of the three main supporting roles. These one-dimensional characters are unconvincing at best, cartoonishly unrealistic at worst. Their lack of depth makes it nearly impossible to connect, care or remember about their presence in the story.

The film's scenario, scenery and events (cooking meth and firing a gun unnoticed in a Police/Fire-station) are riddled with flaws and inconsistencies-many of which have been pointed out in other reviews as well. From plot holes to poorly thought-out sequences, the narrative fails to hold up under even minimal scrutiny. It's clear that neither the writers nor the directors invested the necessary effort to craft a compelling or cohesive story.

And then there's Ferry himself, portrayed by Frank Lammers. While his performance remains solid, his omnipresence in commercials airing hundreds of times a day during this holiday season in the Netherlands creates an overexposure that detracts from the character's impact. It's a shame that Netflix and the director's team opted for this money-driven -Christmas-time release-shortcut rather than focusing on the quality and originality that made the franchise successful in the first place.

In the end, Ferry2 feels like an unnecessary addition that tarnishes what could have been a strong legacy. For me, they should have left Ferry where he was and redirected their efforts toward creating a fresh, compelling narrative. This sequel is a another glaring reminder that not every story needs to be stretched to its limits-and beyond.