The Last Seduction II

Whereas I thought the original 'Last Seduction' didn't quite make the mark, I found that this sequel just barely does. This is the opposite reaction of many people to the two films, so take it with however many grains of salt you wish.

'LS II' is mostly set in Barcelona, which provides some nice location shots, something the film could have used more of. Joan Severance steps into the role of con woman Bridget Gregory this time around. With her hair dyed jet-black, she successfully takes on the character's persona, which basically means looking ultra-cool and acting as if the world is giving her a bad case of ennui when she's not pulling a scam on someone. Beth Goddard plays the capable English bounty hunter who is hired to find her and bring her back to answer to the people she wronged in the first film. These women both seem to live by the same golden rule: Do unto to others before they get their chance.

These two women are the most interesting characters, but neither one is very likeable. The men in this flick are such sleazeballs that you won't mind anything that happens to them. If I had to make a choice, I'd give the film a "thumbs up," but not an enthusiastic one.

One other note: If you are trying to stop smoking, maybe this isn't the best movie for you right now. Severance's character lights a cigarette about every three minutes.

The only seductive element about this twaddle was the title which leads one to hope that the film might have some connection with the original.

The connection is there alright in the central character but that's about it. The plot line is pretty well unfathomable and the acting generally wooden. The decision to 'European-ise' the whole thing and import B-list English actors ( who have all been seen in much better things and really need to change their agents) is a disaster. Even a couple of bursts of gratuitous violence are badly done and every character in it lacks any form of credibility. The two female leads flash their stocking tops but still manage to generate no more than a fraction of the eroticism that Linda Fiorentino could have done in the original wearing a heavy overcoat and a ski hat. Suitable only for film students who really want to know what 'awful' really looks like.

Yes, it is chewing gum for the eyes but Joan manages to keep a minimum level of suspense to make it worth watching. Chain smoking prevents her from blowing lines but yet she keeps an air of mystery about the plot. The movie also helps show the new trend of the "smart" female that makes things work in the stereotype male world.The glass ceiling also exits in crime and she wants to break this. Her scam is acceptable but not too believable, especially the bank scene. The best scene is the seduction one where she performs safe sex with the villain who runs a phone- sex 900 service. She manages to reprogram the computer(with C++ no less) and skim profits to her bank account. Yes, it is a B movie but Joan can play more demanding roles in better written film noires and should bear watching. Enjoy this if the ball game is rained out.

How rare to find a sequel so embarrassing. Gone is the plot, mystery, the dark aspects of the first... a sham. Glad I only rented... You will use your fast forward a lot during this film.

This is a hugely disappointing sequel and doesn't do justice to the original. One would think that whomever decided to make a sequel, they would at least start with half decent script. I've rarely heard such appallingly bad dialogue. It is also, as others have pointed out, insulting to the British. The only good thing about the film is Joan Severance, despite her constant smoking. She may not be a great actress but anyone who thinks that Joan Severance is totally devoid of sex appeal is devoid of a pulse in my opinion. Though not in Linda Fiorentino's class - certainly as far as this role is concerned - she is still a stunning and sexy woman.