The Dundee Way
As is too often the case, after the success of "Crocodile Dundee" someone though it would be a good idea to make a sequel whether or not there was a need for one. And so 2 years after the release of "Crocodile Dundee" we got "Crocodile Dundee II" bringing back Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski for more Aussie fuelled comedy. Now it has to be said that "Crocodile Dundee II" is not as good as "Crocodile Dundee" but is a much better sequel than I expected. The simple reason being that whilst we get a bit more of Mick's amusing naivety in New York it conjures up a different storyline about an angry drug baron to take him and Sue back to the outback. It may make "Crocodile Dundee II" a bit more routine but it also stops it from being just a dull rehash of the first movie.
Having settled down with Sue (Linda Kozlowski), Mick Dundee (Paul Hogan) is still exploring the sights of New York and making friends with all that he meets. But when Sue's ex husband gets himself into trouble with a drugs baron he ends up drawing both Sue and Mick into the mess. When Sue's life is threatened Mick decided that he will protect her and the best place to do that is on his ground back in the Aussie out back. It doesn't take long for the drug baron, along with a group of henchman to track them down to Walk About Creek and so Mick must use all his native skill and guile to out wit them and protect Sue.
What is nice when it comes to "Crocodile Dundee II" is that the writers appear to have taken a bit of time to think things through rather than rushing out something completely mediocre. It means that whilst "Crocodile Dundee II" starts with a continuation of Mick exploring New York and doing things the 'Dundee' way it develops into something more. That something more is a little routine, we have bad guys after Sue and Mick but the fact that it takes us back to the Australian out back makes it a bit more fun. Being routine does mean that we know by the end of the movie Mick will have proved what a hero he is by defeating various bad guys but it is entertaining.
And that is the thing about "Crocodile Dundee II" where as the first movie was all about Mick discovering the delights of New York and winning the girl this time around it is all about showing Mick as a hero. This means we get plenty of action as Mick comes up with some clever and often amusingly primitive way of stopping the bad guys. It's the simplest of things which make it so entertaining such as turning the knife around before he throws it so he doesn't kill his victim but knock them out with the handle. And these moments happen throughout the movie, be it in New York where he goes out onto a high office ledge to stop a jumper, or in the out back where he uses Sue's bra as a trap.
Whilst making Mick a true rugged action hero it doesn't forget the comedy and barely a scene goes by which doesn't make you smile. As such we still get Mick being amusingly naive as a fish out of water in New York but also amusingly laid back when he and Sue return to Oz. What is especially nice is that whilst a couple of the jokes are recycled most of the humour is fresh and it stops "Crocodile Dundee II" from feeling like an inadequate rehash.
What is very evident is that "Crocodile Dundee II" is all about making Paul Hogan an action hero as the storyline centres on him stopping bad guys and saving the damsel in distress. And to be honest Hogan carries it off but rather than being over the top it is a very laid back action hero which Hogan creates and a hugely entertaining as well as amusing one at that. Because so much attention is afforded to Hogan everyone else including Linda Kozlowski as Sue end up being supporting actors, with Linda employed more than ever for being beautiful and sexy rather than to act. And the knock on effect of this is also that the bad guys, Hechter Ubarry as Rico and Juan Fernández as Miguel, are not really that bad, just 2 dimensional caricatures.
What this all boils down to is that "Crocodile Dundee II" is a surprisingly good and entertaining sequel. The fact it's not just a rehash and tries to bring in both a new storyline and new jokes makes it much better than many sequels. But it is predictable and as such does suffer occasionally as it doesn't always keep your attention meaning it's not as good as "Crocodile Dundee" but still a lot of laid back Aussie fun.
