Big Bad Mama II

Evicted from their homestead in a bloody shootout, Wilma McClatchie (Angie Dickinson) and her daughters, Polly and Billie Jean (Julie McCullough and Danielle Brisebois) must fall back on their penchant for armed robbery to survive.

Let the fun begin!

Basically, one big gun battle after another, interrupted by nudity, BIG BAD MAMA 2 is Director Jim Wynorski's cheeeze-filled sequel to Roger Corman's cult classic. This time, Robert Culp is along for the frivolous festivities.

As with the first film, Ms. Dickinson is what saves it from being a total abomination. Without her, this wouldn't be just schlock, it would be far more burdensome schlock! While nowhere near as good as the original, it does have a certain charm, usually involving the McClatchie sisters!

Actually, what hurts BBM2 the most is the fact that the first movie was shot in the 1970's, and had that aesthetic going for it. This movie was made in the late 1980's, and definitely has that decade's low-budget clunk-i-tude going on!

The final conflict is especially amazing, as the apparently-immortal McClatchies take on the entire police force!

Sooo, STEP ONE: Remove your brain and put it in your pocket. STEP TWO: Pray for the best, but expect the worst. STEP THREE: Enjoy...

You watch this film because of the attractive women, not because you expect The Godfather', 'Bonnie and Clyde', or even 'Scarface.' Angie looks great (although she may be body doubled during her sex scene with Culp), and McCullough and Brisbois are barely clothed throughout, thank you very much. Otherwise, this is a clumsily written, directed and acted pile of junk. The action scenes are some of the worst staged for the screen, with Glover, Culp and others standing around, unconcerned, as explosions go off and bullets fly around them. Cops fire endless rounds at Angie and her girls in their jalopy and neither the car or the girls are ever scratched. Plotwise, we've got Dickinson and her girls shooting up cops and blasting their way out of banks then racing off... but the cops never follow. In fact, nobody seems to be after these brazen criminals except Culp, the reporter. The cops are apparently stumped, but Culp finds them without any effort, time and time again. It's all so obviously stupid, and the leads know it. Culp and Dickinson treat the film like a 'Smokey & The Bandit' lark with barely suppressed laughter in many of their scenes. But, once again, you're here for the feminine pulchritude.

When their home is repossessed, Wilma McClatchie's husband is killed and she and her two nubile young daughters set out to rob anything belonging to the owner of the bank concerned.

First of all, being a Jim Wynorski movie, you have to have low expectations. But even for him, this is rather a dud. Not his worst, but far from his best. Second, you have to wonder why Angie Dickinson would agree to this. Being in the first one was "slumming it", so this is practically an insult. Though surprisingly for a Wynorski film, this may have less nudity than the original.

And then there is the strange overt political message. Maybe I missed it, but I don't recall the talk about Hoover shanties and the rich against the poor in the first film. This time it is really blunt, not even cleverly worked in. What exactly is the point?

BIG BAD MAMA, the original, was essentially a remake of BLOODY MAMA, without Shelley Winters. Angie Dickenson played a mama out for money and revenge, and there was plenty of violence and nudity to satisfy the fans of BLOODY MAMA. However, since BLOODY MAMA is basically a rip-off of BONNIE AND CLYDE, BIG BAD MAMA can't help but to seem familiar.

BIG BAD MAMA II(which is more of an afterthought) is a very watered-down retread. The source material was over ten years old when they made this one, and the story lacks any surprises. In fact, besides the fairly solid cast(Dickenson, Robert Culp), the main attraction of BB MAMA II is in seeing TV star Danielle Brisebois in the buff. BIG BAD MAMA II recalls some past successes, but as it stands, it's no big bad deal. The Depression-era cars, sets, and costumes are all in place, but not much else.

Angie Dickenson is back, and this time she's old. She does look good in a bubblebath, though, and her daughters have a skinny-dip.

This sequel to a film that ripped-off one film(BLOODY MAMA), which in turn was a rip-off of another flick(BONNIE AND CLYDE).

Needless to say, BIG BAD MAMA II is a watered-down affair. And Robert Culp looks embarrassed. It's a time-killer, with the emphasis on "kill".