Yes, admittedly it's just not as good as the first, very cool "Trancers" film, but then that's often to be expected of sequels. The basic ideas are still good, but this is quite plot heavy; the viewer really has to pay attention, and it's advised that they see "Trancers" # 1 before seeing this. It's also a little plodding, unlike the first "Trancers", and is short on action. There's still some humour to be found in the characters and the situations, and the gadgets are amusing like they were before.
Tim Thomerson is once again a total hoot as cynical Trancer hunter Jack Deth, who's adjusted to life in the 20th century with his wife Lena (Helen Hunt). Hap Ashby (Biff Manard) has cleaned up his act and also cleaned up in the stock market. However, soon their happy lives will be disrupted when Jacks' first wife Alice is sent back in time to occupy the body of a mental patient (Megan Ward) and Dr. Wardo (Richard Lynch), brother of original villain Whistler, is using an environmental movement as a cover for creating a Trancer army.
The real attraction is a wonderful collection of B movie actors; certainly the casting directors knew what they were doing. Lynch is of course a fantastic bad guy as always. Art La Fleur and Telma Hopkins return from the first film; La Fleurs' character McNulty is once again transported into the body of his female ancestor (Alyson Croft), who's now a teenager. Martine Beswicke and Jeffrey Combs play Lynchs' evil associates, Sonny Carl Davis is amiable asylum attendant Rabbit, Barbara Crampton has an all too brief role as a TV talk show host, and John Davis Chandler has a bit as a wino. Performances are decent but most of the actors have been better utilized in other projects.
The dialogue just doesn't have a whole lot of zip to it; although Thomersons' delivery is good, it's doubtful that fans will go around quoting "Trancers II". Producer / director Charles Band seems to be going through the motions here, which is too bad. "Trancers" could and should have gotten a worthy sequel, but this is overall too muddled and lacking in energy to really soar.
Six out of 10.
Tim Thomerson is once again a total hoot as cynical Trancer hunter Jack Deth, who's adjusted to life in the 20th century with his wife Lena (Helen Hunt). Hap Ashby (Biff Manard) has cleaned up his act and also cleaned up in the stock market. However, soon their happy lives will be disrupted when Jacks' first wife Alice is sent back in time to occupy the body of a mental patient (Megan Ward) and Dr. Wardo (Richard Lynch), brother of original villain Whistler, is using an environmental movement as a cover for creating a Trancer army.
The real attraction is a wonderful collection of B movie actors; certainly the casting directors knew what they were doing. Lynch is of course a fantastic bad guy as always. Art La Fleur and Telma Hopkins return from the first film; La Fleurs' character McNulty is once again transported into the body of his female ancestor (Alyson Croft), who's now a teenager. Martine Beswicke and Jeffrey Combs play Lynchs' evil associates, Sonny Carl Davis is amiable asylum attendant Rabbit, Barbara Crampton has an all too brief role as a TV talk show host, and John Davis Chandler has a bit as a wino. Performances are decent but most of the actors have been better utilized in other projects.
The dialogue just doesn't have a whole lot of zip to it; although Thomersons' delivery is good, it's doubtful that fans will go around quoting "Trancers II". Producer / director Charles Band seems to be going through the motions here, which is too bad. "Trancers" could and should have gotten a worthy sequel, but this is overall too muddled and lacking in energy to really soar.
Six out of 10.