Super Troopers 2

Super Troopers 2 is a 2018 comedic film directed by Jay Chandrasekhar and is the sequel to the cult 2001 film Super Troopers. It stars the comedy troupe known as Broken Lizard, which includes Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, and Erik Stolhanske. This sequel picks up where the original leaves off, returning to the adventures of these five Vermont State Troopers with hilarious high jinks and an all-new comedic plot.

The action kicks off with a border dispute between the United States and Canada. A small town that was previously thought to be part of Canada is discovered to be technically on United States soil. The transition of power and territory calls for law enforcement, and the Vermont State Trooper team is assigned the task. The core troupe, now in disarray after certain events, is brought back together for this mission, which brings a combination of intrigue, hilarity, and a lot of absurdity.

Thorny (Jay Chandrasekhar), Farva (Kevin Heffernan), Rabbit (Erik Stolhanske), Mac (Steve Lemme), and Foster (Paul Soter) are feeling the pressure, but their camaraderie and humor shine through in every scene. Their task of essentially colonizing the contested town and transitioning it from Canadian to American law is met with resistance and high jinks from the local residents and Canadian Mounties making the situation even more outrageous.

Some humor is derived from the clash of cultures, and there are quite a few jokes about the charming differences between Canadians and Americans. From metric measurements and French signage to hockey culture and differential societal norms, the film takes a light-hearted approach to nationality, infusing lots of Canadian stereotypes and humor to feed up to this theme.

The plot is further heightened with appearances from an ensemble cast including Linda Carter, Marisa Coughlan, Rob Lowe, Emmanuelle Chriqui, and many others. Rob Lowe plays a comedic role as former hockey player turned mayor of the contested town. His character adds another humorous layer to the film, as do the three main Canadian Mounties, portrayed by Will Sasso, Tyler Labine, and Hayes MacArthur.

One of the major highlights of Super Troopers 2 is the interaction between the troopers and the Canadians, resulting in a series of pranks, clever jokes, and on-going shenanigans that offer relentless humor throughout the film. However, it doesn’t just rely on comedy to carry the storyline. The film also incorporates many engaging action sequences, giving it somewhat of an action-comedy feel.

Super Troopers 2 stays true to the original's zany humor and strange, often ridiculous, adventures, all the while maintaining familiar character dynamics and bonding. Key to this bond is the chemistry between the Broken Lizard members, whose comedic synchronicity, honed over many years, has undeniably seeped into the five central characters, making the troopers a charmingly idiotic and endearingly enthusiastic force to be reckoned with.

The director, Jay Chandrasekhar, does a remarkable job balancing the comedic high jinks with the requirement to serve a compelling plot. Visually, Super Troopers 2 has an improved and more polished cinematography than its predecessor, providing more appeal and captivation to the audience.

In conclusion, Super Troopers 2 is a comedic delight best suited to fans of the original movie who will surely appreciate the return of more of the same hare-brained humor and charmingly absurd situations that the Vermont State Troopers find themselves in. It manages to rekindle the charm of the first movie, and though it may not entirely reinvent the comedy wheel, it offers plenty of chuckles and serves up the signature silliness that fans have come to love from the Broken Lizard troupe. If you are a fan of light-hearted, easy-watching, and frankly ridiculous comedies, Super Troopers 2 is worth a watch.