Los campeones II

This is not that different from the first film, following the formula except this time the Ducks are representing their country. It has similar humor, similar easy lessons about playing like a team, enjoying yourself and doing your best, similar underdog comeback against a very strong rival...

However, while the first one seemed more grounded, this one raises the stakes, and the corny elements become more bothersome. So we have Coach Bombay directing the USA national youth team, and the team is... his peewee team with a few additions from other parts of the country? There is no one in the Ducks with enough skill to play on a national team, apart from Adam Banks.

Then, the USA shirt is not good enough for them, they can only play their best with the shirts of their peewee team... Little kids won't be bothered, and they will cheer when the team puts on the Duck shirts, but older kids may grimace.

Also, we lose here the element having kids of a poorer neighborhood, with less means, facing up against richer opponents, with more opportunities to train. Here we have the national team, so when one of them doesn't know to hockey stop, it makes less sense.

A feel-good kid sports movie following the recipe of the first, watchable but not as relatable.

Gordon Bombay is forced to withdraw from the minor hockey league with a knee injury. Much to his surprise, he is given the job of coach of Team USA Hockey for the Junior Goodwill Games in California. With most of the Ducks and a few new players in tow, he sets forth for LA.

When you have a sequel, you have to make it bigger and better. This film is possibly bigger, because now the kids are playing in some sort of Olympic-like setting against a team from Iceland. So the pressure is much greater. But is it better? Not really. It's rather flat with no plot development, character development or surprises.

Fans of the first film might like this, especially because it will allow them to just relax for 90 minutes and not have to invest themselves. It's a good movie to play in the background. Also, Leah Lail is in it.

For some odd reason, I liked D2: The Mighty Ducks. Now, obviously, I haven't had the opportunity to see The Might Ducks, you know, the first one? But my friend only had the second and the third, so I'm watching those first and hopefully I didn't have to see the first one to understand the second. But I got the story just fine, not to mention, after reading the summary of The Mighty Ducks, I get the point of the movie.

Basically, Gordon now has the chance to coach his Mighty Ducks again, only this time, they are Team U.S.A. They are fighting against the best Pee-Wee hockey teams in the world, including the very nasty, plays against the rules, Iceland Team. Now, if you've seen The Karate Kid, you get where this is going. Of course, Gordon changes and wants to win instead of have fun, leading the team into stress, and again, if you've seen Rocky, you get the point.

See what I mean by how predictable it was? Not to mention how many inspirational speeches there were, I was getting a toothache from how many there were, they were so sweet, it was unbearable. But I thought that it was a fun family film that the kids would definitely get a kick out of. As silly as it was, it is a good film for the kids, for morals, you know? :-D But, just sit back and enjoy, you never know, you might like it as well.

6/10

I felt I just had to say, the second review, 10/10 "The Greatest Film of All Time", is one of the funniest things I've read in a while and made my night. I've never reviewed a film or show, I laughed so hard I had to post something. It's a good movie, I don't know, watch it. Underrated and often left unmentioned decent sequel. Ducks fly together. And the second review helped me big time.

Rising like a phoenix from the ashes, D2 spreads its wings and soars to new heights of artistic merit. D2 is the rarest of sequels, a sequel that is truly better than the original. All of the jagged edges in the original film's plot have been streamlined, and the new ground being broken, (Self-Doubt, Conquering your fears, Sexual Identity) fit in seamlessly, giving this film a more robust feel, similar to that of Chunky Soup. Emilio Estevez (In his star-making role) plays coach Bombay with a smoldering fury that makes it very clear that he is Martin Sheen's favorite son. The rest of the cast is equally brilliant, especially the ducks themselves, whose performances are so real, you cant help believing that they are truly kids. The direction is bold yet beautiful, and instantly recalls that of the early german surrealists. The electronic score by Goblin is eerily effective in creating suspense in both the game and locker room scenes, and lets the viewer know that this isnt a game anymore, and that national pride is on the line. A masterpiece of baroque visuals and dry wit, D2 is a most worthy rental upon your next excursion to the video store.