Review #121: Child's Play 2 (1990)

Cast & Notable Credits:
John Lafia (Director): Man’s Best Friend (1993)

Brad Dourif (Chucky)

Alex Vincent (Andy): Child's Play

Jenny Agutter (Joanne Simpson): An American Werewolf in London

Christine Elise (Kyle): China Beach T.V. series

Gerrit Graham (Phil Simpson): Police Academy 6 (1989), Chopping Mall (1986), C.H.U.D. 2 (1989)

Grace Zabriskie (Grace Poole): The Grudge

Peter Haskell (Sullivan): Child’s Play 3

Beth Grant (Miss Kettlewell): Donnie Darko (2001), Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Greg Germann (Mattson): Talladega Nights (2006), Quarantine (2008), Bolt (2008), Ally McBeal T.V. series

Trailer:



Child's Play Review Link

Plot:

Chucky’s back! Following the events of the first film, the Play Pals Corporation reconstructs the Chucky doll to prove to it's board members that it was working properly and to fence off some lawsuits and allegations made by the Barclay family.

During the rebuilding process, somehow through the "will of the evil forces of the world", new life springs into the Chucky figure's new body. Whoa la! Chucky's back to life and his ticket out of the body still involves swapping souls with Andy.

Speaking of Andy and friends...his mother Karen, has been institutionalized due to her allegations of Chucky the killer doll. What happened to the two cops that witnessed all the events? Andy has been placed in a foster home with new parents and a foster sister.

Villain:

The little killer doll named Chucky. Gone are the days of him being a stealth killer doll. After the success of the first film, and just like Freddy, Chucky becomes a smart *ss killer on the move. Child's Play has just entered the realm of punning and killing. Kiss "fearing the villain" good bye!

Cast:

First of all, Alex Vincent returns to play the role of Andy. Whew! I thought that he would have been re casted by this point. Honestly, who in their right mind would let their seven year old kid return to star in horror movie sequel? I would. But that's me. Normal parents probably wouldn't.

Alex does another good job playing a terrified kid. Surrounding him are a couple cast members with some fairly decent on screen success. Andy's foster mom is none of than Jenny Agutter. She was our favorite actress in An American Werewolf in London and Logan's Run. She supplied the "T" and "A" in the TNA section of my grading system. Good for her!

Other bit piece cast members include Greg Germann and Beth Grant. Germann is perhaps most recognizable as the jerk dick head owner in Talledega Nights. Yeah, the guy married to the drunk chick and responsible for hiring the Frenchie. Grant co-stars in the one of my cult fav's Donnie Darko. She's the crazy mom in charge of the talent show pageant...and the one with the crush on Patrick Swayze.

SFX/Gore:

Child's Play 2 ran up the body count a little bit from the first film...but not by much. There were seven deaths in the film compared to the first film's four. This time around they were more gruesome and we actually got to see more of them on screen. My favorite death has to be Chucky throwing the beat down on Andy's school teacher with a ruler. Yeah, it's not much, but the concept is cool.

The special effects used on Chucky are really good this film. Not that the first movie's sucked, but this time they featured Chucky more. Child's Play spent most of the movie with quick glimpses of Chucky until the end, while this one we got to see the killer doll through out the whole film. Naturally they had to spend more time on the effects of the doll, and they looked great.

TNA:

Not much but serious Shark Factors here. Well, at least it's better than the first movie...it's got one more piece of "eye candy". Christine Elise plays Andy's foster sister in the film. Her wardrobe brings back memories of the 90's. White socks on top of black nylons underneath knee cut blue jeans and to top it off...black combat boots. Hell yeah! We love the early 90's! Fashion faux paus at it's best.

And of course we have the lovely Jenny Agutter (Pictured right). Who would probably be considered a big time MILF now a days.

Concept:

Sequel. Child's Play 2 is really just a continuence of the last film. Chucky spending the film trying to get to Andy to swap souls. This time around they throw in a couple cooler deaths and replace mom with a foster family.

T.Gun Factor:

I've always been surprised on how people have always struggled in their fights against a little toy doll. It amazes me that a little toy doll can over match and put up a hell of a fight against human beings. Really? If a little evil doll came after me, then I would give it a good field goal boot across the room. I win. Hands down. I'm not gonna struggle against a little piece of plastic.

Did we really need a second Child's Play? Probably not. But at least it's fun. It has no redeeming value or quality outside of continuing the story of the first Child's Play and making cooler deaths. It's still worth checking out and watching.

Misc. Movie Trivia:
-Film opened on November 9, 1990 and made $28.5 million at the Box Office ($10.7 million opening weekend)
-Brad Douriff did the voice over in advance so Chucky's mouth could be matched up with the words