Le défi du tigre

I didn't think too much of the first "Penitentiary" movie, finding it a cheap and slow exercise. Though it must have made quite a bit of money, because a few years later this sequel came out. And it manages to be worse than the original in almost every way you can think of. The script is a mess - it has a meandering quality, as if director/screenwriter Jamaa Fanaka was making things up as he was going along. And it never makes any of the characters real enough to be believable. The only good things about the movie were that the production values were a step up from the original, and there is a (un?)intentionally funny "Star Wars" reference. If you must see one movie from this series, I recommend you skip forward and watch part 3, which is pure (and entertaining) insanity done with slickness.

This sequel to the amazing 1979 prison drama "Penitentiary," is so unbelievably bad, that it damages the integrity of the original. "Penitentiary 2" has none of what made the first movie so good. Character development has been replaced with cartoon caricatures, smart humor has been replaced with toilet jokes, and any serious dramatic elements have been completely removed. Even the title is ridiculous; "Penitentiary 2" makes no sense because this is not even a prison film! It's just a cash-in on a very successful cult classic, that was loved both by audiences and critics.

This movie has Martel "Too Sweet" Gordone out of prison, and back on the streets. His parole requires him to continue boxing, as well as to stay out of trouble. That's not happening if "Half Dead" has anything to do with it. Too Sweet's nemesis from the first film has broken out of prison, and is on a mission to kill Too Sweet at any cost. Unfortunately, the characters that were so likable in the first film, are the opposite here. The original actor who played "Half Dead,", Badja Djola, had moved onto bigger productions, and smartly decided to stay far away from this mess. Actor Ernie Hudson takes on the role, and he plays the character as a one dimensional bad guy and it's boring. There isn't even an attempt at continuity with the writing; director Jamaa Fanaka replaces the likable, unforgettable character of "Seldom Seen" with a different actor, who portrays him as a gold chain-wearing jerk, who is only concerned with getting pussy. Any fan of the first film knows that character as a refined old guy, who listened to jazz and had a collection of classic literature in his prison cell..and that he had NO interest in the shallow, base vices of the outside world. In this way, P2 actually insults the first film. Aesthetically speaking, the difference is also extreme. While the first film had a nice, 70's vintage, independent movie style, this one looks like a cheap, tacky 80's nightmare. It's really amazing how different things looked in 1982, from just 3 years earlier. I think one problem comes from both the director, and Leon Isaac Kennedy, having become a bit jaded from their success. The innocence and humble, down to earth feel of the first movie has been replaced with an obnoxious, pessimistic energy. I love "Penitentiary" and think of it as one of the best prison movies of all time. That is why I hate this sequel. It is an insult to something great..

Once again, we find "Too Sweet" struggling against his conscience, and the bad guys, to gain his freedom. After defeating his arch-rival, and gaining freedom: "Too Sweet" works himself into championship contention...he's reunited with his sister, who is married, and has a young son. As fate would have it...he must fight against the same man he defeated to end the first movie. Now, they each have risen in the rankings. You'll find the plot thin, the acting pitiful, and get a good laugh for nostalgia's sake.. You'll notice Mr.T, Ernie Hudson (the warden on "Oz"), and a few others...have your buddies over, break out the beer and enjoy. Its true entertainment value is how thinly veiled the plot and characters are. This movie, was BIG...back in the Blaxpo days. Essentially it rode the wave of the original. Leon Isaac had no talent, physique, or legitimacy as an actor. But , he did what most successful films do...run a sequel to milk the audiences thirst.

The current DVD release available for this title is NOT the same version of the film that was shown in theaters. The DVD distributor for some reason made cuts to parts of the movie. (In particular, Ernie Hudson's ambush of the girl in the shower.) The sequence may too brutal for more sensitive viewers, but that doesn't justify making cuts to the original film.) HBO broadcast the movie in it's entirety in the 80's, and the first VHS/Beta home video releases also contain the complete film.

Very predictable movie kind of a low budget film. But it was still worth the watch.