C.H.U.D. II: Bud the C.H.U.D.

C.H.U.D. II: Bud the C.H.U.D., released in 1989, is a comedy horror film that diverges significantly from the plot of its predecessor, C.H.U.D., which was a docudrama-style horror movie about cannibalistic humanoids living beneath New York City. In contrast, C.H.U.D. II: Bud the C.H.U.D. brings a humorous spin to the horror genre, blending slapstick humor, corny gags, and light-hearted horror into a uniquely entertaining narrative.

The film stars Brian Robbins, Bill Calvert, and Tricia Leigh Fisher. Brian Robbins plays the role of Steve Williams, one of the two lead characters, alongside his best friend, Kevin, played by Bill Calvert. Both the characters Steve and Kevin are high-school students with a knack for landing themselves in trouble. Tricia Leigh Fisher plays Katie Norton, Steve's girlfriend, who often gets caught up in the boys' misadventures.

The story begins when Steve and Kevin bungle their high school science project and desperately need a dead body to make up for their mistake. They visit the nearby Center for Disease Control, hoping to find a suitable subject. They inadvertently stumble upon a top-secret military experiment involving reanimated, cannibalistic humanoids - abbreviated as C.H.U.D.s (Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers). The boys leave the facility with a little more than they had bargained for - Bud the C.H.U.D., a corpse who is the last remaining specimen of the military's C.H.U.D. experiment.

What follows is a chaotic mix of humor and horror as Bud, portrayed by Gerrit Graham, reawakens and unwittingly sets off on a mission originally programmed by the military, which creates a calamitous zombie outbreak. Bud himself is an oddly endearing character, a gentle monster adorned by an eternal grin with particular tastes, combining the characteristics of a humanoid creature and typical teenager, underlined by Graham's excellent comedic performance.

Meanwhile, Steve, Kevin, and Katie are relentlessly pursued by the rigid military man Colonel Masters, played by Robert Vaughn, who is determined to capture Bud before anyone discovers the mess resulting from the problematic military experiment. Colonel Masters brings an additional source of comedic relief with his stern pretense and continuous failure to capture the loose C.H.U.D.

The film, helmed by director David Irving, manages to balance the elements of horror and comedy rather effectively, never undermining one for the sake of the other. It instead thrives on the obvious incongruity between the two genres, resulting in a unique form of hilarity. The film includes numerous farcical situations fashioned around the looming threat posed by the innocently comic yet hazardous Bud.

Adding to the film's appeal are the cast performances, particularly that of Fisher, Robbins, and Calvert. Fisher delivers a believable performance as the horrified-but-brave girlfriend caught in the midst of the impending disaster, while Robbins and Calvert perfectly capture the essence of high school buddies clueless in crisis management.

C.H.U.D. II: Bud the C.H.U.D., with its blend of humor and horror, is an excellent movie for those who appreciate offbeat comedy and horror-infused absurdness. The film's B-movie charm and tongue-in-cheek horror stand out, offering an entertaining ride through a zombie thriller from a different perspective. The depiction of an absurd, bumbling apocalypse seems a far cry from the initial C.H.U.D. movie, yet the sequel succeeds in its own light-hearted, comedic take.

C.H.U.D. II: Bud the C.H.U.D. is a zany straight-to-video cult classic that continues to entertain audiences looking for nontraditional, sometimes groan-inducing humor coupled with horror elements. Its blend of 80s pop culture, comedic horror, and lovable characters make this film a memorable entry into the comedy-horror genre.