Overrated

Highly Overrated But Still Good

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Enjoyed the first 'Lavalantula' in a guilty pleasure sort of way. It was not what one calls great, but manages actually to be one of SyFy's best and more watchable films by quite some distance. Being someone who, like many, mostly hates SyFy with a passion, that's saying quite a bit. For the record, it's their compulsive badness and curiosity to see if they have the ability to make something decent once in a while keeps me watching. '2 Lava 2 Lantula' is very much an inferior follow-up, with the problems far more evident. '2 Lava 2 Lantula' is not terrible by any stretch and like 'Lavalantula' is also one of SyFy's better and more watchable films, but 'Lavalantula' had more freshness, more fire and more bite, was more focused story-wise and didn't take silliness too far, definitely easier to take as a guilty pleasure.Again, like 'Lavalantula', as far as SyFy movies go '2 Lava 2 Lantula' looks decent. Editing and photography is tighter than most SyFy movies, locations are colourful and atmospheric, the way the production is lit is less drab than usual. The creature special effects are more mixed, at some pretty they're not bad at all, at other times they're fake and over-obvious. That doesn't stop thankfully that the creatures themselves do have menace and personality, and the film again knows how to utilise them.The music score is groovy and eerie, is careful not to overshadow the dialogue and is used appropriately. The direction shows confidence.While there are worse script in SyFy films, the script is one of the weakest assets here and doesn't have as much above average quality as before. There are amusing moments and there are some neat references that will have film and sci-fi fans grinning, but it lacks snap and bite and tongue-in-cheek too often apart from some moments is replaced by campiness. Campiness that tends to grate and be overused rather than endear.It does make the mistake that 'Lavalantula' managed somehow to avoid, at times it does try too hard to be stupid and the tone and target and audience aren't as clear. The creature attacks are fun and suspenseful still though, if again lacking the scare factor. The story is even more disjointed and over-stretched and due to lacking freshness also feels predictable and derivative. Characters are not as annoying certainly as other characters in SyFy films, and there is some lively pacing. The acting is vastly inferior here, it was above average before, it was not good here. Especially Steve Guttenberg, whose uncomfortable-looking over-acting was painful to watch. The rest were nice to see, but they could have had more to do and they tend to be stale. Michael Winslow gives the best performance, he at least knows what kind of film he's in and doesn't take it seriously while also not falling on the wrong side of camp.Overall, watchable but a fairly difficult one to rate and review. 5/10 Bethany Cox

The sequel continues in Sharknado fashion.Guttenberg travels to Miami to save Florida from the gargantulantula. Michael Winslow, also from Police Academy fame is better utilized in this film, at one time he even imitates Scotty from Star Trek. There are many films which are spoofed, perhaps the most famous and notable is "Dr. Stangelove." The franchise is attracting better stars than before, and will soon be an A-lister cameo haven.Asylum/SyFy made for TV

Steve Guttenberg returns in this 2016 sci-fi action sequel to kick more spider butt. In this installment, actor, Colton West (Guttenberg) tries to save his step-daughter, Raya (Michele Weaver) and Florida from a new batch of destructive, lava-spitting tarantulas. This isn't a bad follow-up that shouldn't be taken too seriously. Like the first film, it has obvious CGI effects and some intentional overacting from Mr. Guttenberg. The film also pokes fun/references "Scarface," "Miami Vice," "Crocodile Dundee," "Cocoon" and even "The Karate Kid" in which co-star, Martin Kove appears here as Military Colonel, Jester. Guttenberg's "Police Academy" co-stars, Michael Winslow and Marion Ramsey also reprise their roles as Marty and Teddy. This is a cheesy, but fun flick I still recommend.

For some reason they have Gutenberg start talking like some tough guy after the first few scenes...and the character sounds stupid. Really, it's a typical crappy SyFy movie with a few good puns but Gutenbergs character just ruins it.We're watching its debut right now and it's bad. The first one was funnier but at least they didn't seem to try and "act"...you know what I mean...not taking it too seriously. Stupid conversations at inopportune times when they should be running or shooting something.I think they're trying to pay productions costs with the commercials...they are insanely long and often.