A special effects man helps his girlfriend's ex, a cop, with a sting operation, where the ex gets killed. Something's off and he investigates with help from an ex-cop PI friend.A special effects man helps his girlfriend's ex, a cop, with a sting operation, where the ex gets killed. Something's off and he investigates with help from an ex-cop PI friend.A special effects man helps his girlfriend's ex, a cop, with a sting operation, where the ex gets killed. Something's off and he investigates with help from an ex-cop PI friend.
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- Detective Santoni
- (as Tony de Santis)
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It's five years since Rollie quit the film business; now he's a toy-maker with a new girlfriend, Kim (Ticotin). When Kim's ex-husband, Mike (Tom Mason), a police officer, asks for Rollie's help in catching a killer, he reluctantly agrees.
Through no fault of Rollie's, Mike ends up dead and Rollie has the proof that Mike was set up. This puts Rollie in danger - deja vu. He makes a desperate call to Leo, and the two team up again.
This time around, the plot is a somewhat far-fetched, the emphasis being more on action. There are some very exciting scenes as well as some ingenious toys, including a toy clown that figures prominently in the plot.
Brown and Dennehy have incredible chemistry. They're a joy to watch. My old classmate, Josie DeGuzman (here spelled Josie) is back as Leo's secret weapon in the department. Being predominantly a theater actress, her performance is somewhat stagy but she's no less likable. Joanna Gleason plays an assistant DA.
Clever effects, the great re-teaming of Brown and Dennehy, and very entertaining.
As far as the story goes, it involves a bigger scale of corruption in the law enforcement circle, but the movie is just as enjoyable. And, you still get to see Rollie Tyler using his special effects abilities, which I always thought was the best part of the first one. If you have seen the first F/X, it's probably very likely you'll like the second one. It's one of the few movies I have seen where I can say that the sequel was pretty good.
Entertaining but ordinary 1990's-type action thriller that has some nice parts as is fast-paced , well acted , engaging and thrilling film . It has ex-Inspector Dennehy and FX wizard Brown in perfect form , developing an enjoyable relationship between the crime-busting buddies . Furthermore, good secondaries as Rachel Ticotin , Kevin J O'Connor , Joanna Gleason , Philip Bosco , all of them make fine performances . Some moments were predictable , but for the most part , it was finely-paced with action scenes efficiently handed and some good intrigue and mystery . There are some very exciting scenes as well as some ingenious special effects, including the final setup that resolves prominently the intrigue . The cinematography by Victor J. Kemper and editing are functional . Decent musical score fitting to action by Lalo Schifrin though excessive use of synthesizer . Action is pretty nicely done and fast moving with some engaging gimmickry provided by means of Animatronics and a telemetry suit , enabling the wearer to control a clown's movements via remote control that includes piloting a helicopter . The motion picture is professionally directed by Richard Franklin (Road games , Psycho II, Patrick). This is an acceptable if somewhat belated following to surprise hit realized in 1986 that was a Sleeper titled ¨FX , Murder by illusion¨ , the sequel ¨FX2¨ however, the entire thing is nowhere near as exciting and interesting . It's followed followed by an amiable TV series .
Did you know
- Trivia(at around 60 mins) When Rollie calls young Chris on the phone, the movie Chris is watching on television is the finished film Rollie was shooting the effects for at the start of the original FX : Effet de choc (1986).
- GoofsThe medallions are placed in individual pockets of the velvet purse and thus protected against touching yet, when the purse is handled, they make a distinct metal-to-metal clinking sound.
- Quotes
Leo McCarthy: Jesus Christ. What's wrong with your cat?
Liz Kennedy: There's nothing wrong with my cat. She's a Cornish Rex. They don't shed.
Leo McCarthy: Are you telling me that... Are you telling me that they look like this on purpose? Looks like a big rat.
- Crazy creditsShot of helicopter flying and exclamations of non-pilot crook trying to keep it in the air.
- Alternate versionsThe scene in which Tyler converts an aerosol can into a "grenade" was cut by the New Zealand censors on the grounds that it might inspire real-life incidents of "copycat" behaviour.
- How long is F/X2?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $16,400,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $21,082,165
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $5,455,058
- May 12, 1991
- Gross worldwide
- $21,082,165
- Runtime
- 1h 48m(108 min)
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1