Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives!

The production could have been a lot better but the story is a universal one, and this is what pulls you into this film along with a nice soundtrack. Premise: A rock star dies tragically at the peak of his career/life. But what if he didn't really die in that car crash? what if....?

Eddie and the Cruisers II tries, with good intentions, to tell that story. The story of Eddie Wilson, a boy from the north jersey shore who in the late 1960s became the greatest rock star to ever live, and who was believed to have been dead for the past twenty years, suddenly re-emerges when he finds out that his former record label is about to release the unreleased last album tracks that he allegedly lost his life over. The album that the record label would not release in 1969, because the execs thought the tracks were trash, are now thought to be a work of genius. -- Ironically, not because of the rock star's alleged death, but because 20 years later the album tracks that were recorded in '69 are now thought to be visionary of what rock n roll would eventually evolve into (heralding of Sid Viscious/Bruce Springsteen). Eddie puts together a band of musicians from the small Montreal community he has been "hiding out" in for the past twenty years under an assumed name. And along with his girlfriend, a struggling little rich, french canadian artiste [grin], hits the road on a northern U.S. tour that will culminate in the return of Eddie Wilson and the New Cruisers at what I believe was suppose to be Madison Square Garden (most of the film, with the exception of a few exteriors, was shot in Canada). In the beginning, the girlfriend and one of the new band members are the only two who know that "Joe" is really Eddie Wilson. Along the way Joe/Eddie has a few demons to put to rest and a couple of burnt bridges to mend (an old best friend and band member back in Jersey that he neglected to inform that he really wasn't dead all these years and a record mogul he would like to see dead). --

Eddie and the Cruisers II: a nice date movie to rent at the local Blockbuster or better yet, catch it on cable. 2 1/2 stars.

Eddie strove for something real, something meaningful. How many people like that do you meet in your daily life? I meet zero. What a shame.

Maybe he was self-absorbed at times to the detriment of his friendships. There is no excuse for that, but I do believe that he cared about others.

Michael Pare put so much feeling into his role as Eddie, in both the original and this sequel. He is not even a particularly well known actor, yet he put more feeling into this role than most popular actors put into their famous roles.Popularity does not necessarily signify quality.

The makers of this film should have explained what the hell Eddie has been doing for the past 20-25 years. Why did it take him so long to get back into music? Why is he living in a modest apartment, with no woman or kids, or anything after this many years? They could have at least given it a backhanded treatment, so that we would know the basics.

Nevertheless, nice job otherwise. Sweet, understated love affair. Conflict, resolution, emotion, and great music. John Cafferty is Eddie. Eddie lives!

I've seen both "EDDIE AND THE CRUISERS" and "EDDIE AND THE CRUISERS II, EDDIE LIVES" and I rather enjoyed them both. They weren't like ordinary movies that have a beginning, a middle and an end. It was like just being there. You enjoy the characters and the music, at least I did. I think that when an actor takes a role its because he's not expecting the role to help him with his career, but that he can help the role and Michael Pare did exactly that. The moment I can I will be purchasing the movies because they give me an escape of my everyday life. When I watch a movie I don't want to think about what is the character going to do now, or will he get the girl. I just want to watch a movie and not think about the climax of the movie. These movies do just that, I can have a glass of wine or a can of Pepsi and just relax and enjoy.

Having recently aquired a copy and getting to see it again, my original opinion still stands...Eddie and the Cruisers 2 is a great sequel! It has drama, a little mystery, alot of great music and wonderful acting from Michael Pare! He does a great job lip singing to John Cafferty. If you didn't read the credits you would actually think Michael Pare was singing! The only thing I didn't like about this movie was in a flashback, it showed Eddie talking to Sal instead of Frankie. But it was still a great movie. I loved the way Joe/Eddie wrestled with his emotions in choosing what to do about his music and life. Very moving! So, if you want to see a relaxing, feel-good movie, this is the one to watch. Even better if you can watch both the original and Eddie Lives in the same weekend!

I hadn't seen this film since I had viewed it on video in 1990.When I saw a copy for $1 at Borders I had to buy it.Michael Pare as West/Wilson is just perfect and the John Cafferty/Beaver Brown Band deliver an even better soundtrack than the first film.Again, Cafferty's voice emanating from Pare's body is perfect.The ending is great, as is the supporting cast.I liked it better that the first one!