A Volta da Família Sol, Lá, Si, Dó

If you were a fan of the first "Brady Bunch Movie," you'll probably find this sequel enjoyable as well. The whole cast has now slipped effortlessly into their roles (especially Gary Cole's absolutely spot-on mannerisms of Robert Reed/Mike Brady) The story and jokes this time tend to start petering out near the end, but on the whole there are enough laughs, satiric jabs and nostalgic winks to inspire good will towards the whole film. It's fluff, to be sure....but entertaining fluff.

Just a year after the original comes out, they make a follow-up, which is just as good as the original.

Shelley Long, Gary Cole and all the kids come back for this one. Carol's supposedly dead husband comes back, leaving the Brady household confused, so they do they only thing that will help - fly over to Hawaii (of course!)!

Yet more laughs and more funny lines (ie. [coming off the plane] Mike: Where's Marcia? Cindy: She's been lay-ed by those Hawaiian boys!) Ahem, yeah, but you might wanna check this one out for yourself!

The Brady kids aren't short of singing numbers either, not on a stage though, this time on the 'groovy' plane!

A Very Brady Sequel is a very good movie. All the actors did well here, especially Shelly Long, Gary Cole, Jennifer Elise Cox and Tim Mathieson. The funny situations, quotes, tone and style of this movie help hide the fact that not all that much really happens and the premise of this film is absurd.

One of the biggest questions that fans often had about the show was the taboo subject of whether any of the Brady kids hooked up. A Very Brady Sequel tackles this issue head-on with Greg and Marcia trying to decide whether they should give in to the urges they start to feel for each other. This whole subplot was very interesting, if not also a little uncomfortable at times. Christopher Daniel Barnes and Christine Taylor are great as Greg and Marcia.

The one role that I felt was perfectly done and helped the movie out the most is Jennifer Elise Cox as Jan Brady. She does an even better job with the role then the original Jan, Eve Plumb. Almost all the scenes with Jan are funny and Jennifer just shines through.

Obviously, fans of The Brady Bunch are going to get the most enjoyment out of this. For a newcomer, you might want to check out a few episodes of the TV show first.

A sequel that's even better than the first part is a rare occurrence, even more fun than the first film. Once again, it's Jennifer Elise Cox who steals the show with a number of hilarious moments. This overlooked actress has (or had?) the potential to be another Goldie Hawn, but, alas, the major hindrance in her career going forward is that she isn't a Spelling, a Coppola, an Arquette, a Fonda, or a Barrymore. Having lack of powerful family connections is a truly unforgivable crime, and probably a major reason why she didn't make a breakthrough. If Drew Barrymore, for example, had 5% of her talent, she'd be the no.1 female star in the past 2 decades. I don't think much of child and teen actors, but Cox is possibly the funniest teenager I have ever seen in a movie, and one of the funniest actresses, as well. Her semi-retarded, ultra-naive facial expressions, so perfectly suited to this role, and her delivery of lines are absolutely perfect. Matheson is also very good, as is the guy playing the oldest son.

This satiric sequel is a rare exception--it's better than the original. Highlights include Jan's made-up boyfriend, George Glass, Marcia and Greg's awkward sexual attraction, a cameo by Zsa Zsa Gabor and Rosie O'Donnel, not one but TWO musical dance numbers, Marcia's obvious wig in her scene at the pool, Jan losing her contact lens while driving, Mr. and Mrs. Brady's hilariously obvious sexual innuendo, Alice's spaghetti with "special mushrooms," the family trip to Hawaii, and the (brief) return of Tiger, the dog. There's a lot more funny stuff too!

While the original was all about the Brady's living in the 90s, the sequel is more concerned with the wacky misadventures the characters get themselves into. The comedy is intensified when other non-Brady's (people of the 90s) react to the Brady family. Fortunately, the Brady's are still oblivious to the fact that they aren't living in the 1970's anymore, so we can keep on laughing at the ridiculousness of the situations they are placed in.

Honestly, it is such a funny, underrated comedy...RENT IT!