F/X 2 (1991) from Tuna

FX 2 (1991), which IMDB calls F/X2, is a two and a halfer. That is, it is about 2 1/2 stars, or watchable but not in any way memorable. Maltin agrees with me, Ebert is even lower at 2 stars, and Apollo says 24. IMDB readers give it 5.2/10. The film grossed $21.082m.
Special effects expert Bryan Brown agrees to help the police nail a suspect. When things go horribly wrong, he ends up battling the NYPD, the mob and a deputy DA. He brings in his old police buddy, Brian Dennehy, to help. 

NUDITY REPORT

 The exposure is from one time wonder, Lisa Fallon, who was used as a decoy to catch a peeper/attacker.
The film is not without entertainment value. In my favorite scene, Brown uses items from the shelves of a supermarket to defeat an armed attacker. For instance, he turns three cans of hairspray and a can of baked beans into a grenade. That scene was cut in New Zealand, who felt their deviant youth didn't need any more great ideas like that.

This is a sequel to FX, which was not much better.

DVD info from Amazon.

  • Widescreen 

  • no features

Scoop's notes:  

I enjoy Bryan, but he sure ends up in some turkeys.

On the Bryan Brown scale, this rates below Full Body Massage, but ahead of Blame it on the Bellboy and Cocktail.

I'm afraid he dropped off a bit after Breaker Morant.

The Critics Vote

  • General consensus: one and a half stars. Maltin 2.5/4, Ebert 2/4, Apollo 24/100.

The People Vote ...

  • With their votes ... IMDB summary: IMDb voters score it 5.2, but Apollo users a minimal 16/100. 
  • with their dollars ... gross: a surprisingly high $21 million
IMDb guideline: 7.5 usually indicates a level of excellence, about like three and a half stars from the critics. 6.0 usually indicates lukewarm watchability, about like two and a half stars from the critics. The fives are generally not worthwhile unless they are really your kind of material, about like two stars from the critics. Films under five are generally awful even if you like that kind of film, equivalent to about one and a half stars from the critics or less, depending on just how far below five the rating is.

My own guideline: A means the movie is so good it will appeal to you even if you hate the genre. B means the movie is not good enough to win you over if you hate the genre, but is good enough to do so if you have an open mind about this type of film. C means it will only appeal to genre addicts, and has no crossover appeal. D means you'll hate it even if you like the genre. E means that you'll hate it even if you love the genre. F means that the film is not only unappealing across-the-board, but technically inept as well.

Based on this description,  I will score this a C-.

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