Airplane II: The Sequel (1982)

A faulty computer causes a passenger space shuttle to head straight for the Sun. Can Ted Striker save the day and get the shuttle back on track - again?

Director:

Ken Finkleman

Writer:

Ken Finkleman

Stars:

Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Lloyd Bridges

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lloyd Bridges	...	Steve McCroskey
Raymond Burr	...	The Judge
Chuck Connors	...	The Sarge
Rip Torn	...	Bud Kruger
John Dehner	...	The Commissioner
Chad Everett	...	Simon Kurtz
Peter Graves	...	Captain Clarence Oveur
Julie Hagerty	...	Elaine Dickinson
Robert Hays	...	Ted Striker
Kent McCord	...	Unger
James A. Watson Jr.	...	Dunn
William Shatner	...	Commander Buck Murdock
Stephen Stucker	...	Jacobs / Courtroom Clerk
John Vernon	...	Dr. Stone
Al White	...	Witness

Storyline

Years have passed since Ted Striker heroically saved many lives by avoiding a plane crash. Working as a test pilot for a new Lunar Shuttle, he gets innocently sent into a mental ward after a crash of the badly constructed, computer-navigated spaceship. When he hears that the exactly same type of shuttle is scheduled for a moon flight soon, he breaks out to hinder the launch. Aboard, Ted finds his ex-ex Elaine Dickinson working as stewardess again and her fiancé Simon, a member of the committee that wants the Mayflower I to be launched. In flight, the ship's computer ROK 9000 takes control, killing the crew. Ted and Elaine manage to switch it off, and now it is up to Ted again to save the passengers' lives - if there only wouldn't be these flashbacks to the war and these people who know Ted and have no faith in his abilities at all.

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Plot Keywords:

hare krishna | repeat sequel | time bomb | crazy humor | parody | 

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Taglines:

Just when you thought it safe to go back into the departure lounge.

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Genres:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 December 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Flying High II

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$27,150,534

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures,Howard W. Koch Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Both the prosecutor (John Larch) and the psychiatrist (John Vernon) appear together in Dirty Harry (1971). Larch as the Chief and Vernon as the Mayor.

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Goofs

In the opening in the airport, when Scraps the dog is first shot he's on a leash. When they cut back, there's no longer a leash.

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Quotes

Steve McCroskey: Get me radio contact with that ship, pronto!
Controller #1: Yes, sir!
Controller #3: [walks over carrying some papers. He is carrying them with an oven mitt] Here's all the available information on the sun, sir. That thing is *hot*.
[McCroskey touches the hot papers and burns his hand]
Steve McCroskey: Get me Bud Kruger immediately and some ice!
Controller #3: Yes, sir.
Steve McCroskey: Jacobs.
[Jacobs hops over]
Steve McCroskey: I want to know absolutely everything that's happened up 'til now.
Controller Jacobs: Well, let's see: First, the Earth cooled. And then the dinosaurs came, but they got too big and ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

After the ending credits roll off the screen, a commercial comes up that says "Coming from Paramount Pictures: Airplane III". Then William Shatner, as Buck Murdock, comes on and says "That's exactly what they'll be expecting us to do!"

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Alternate Versions

In the TV version of 'Airplane II' there were 2 gags involving the Texan played by Hugh Gillin that were not in the theatrical release. One involved him giving a large sum of money to a man representing a heart foundation who then keels over dead when he sees how much money the Texan had given him. The other involves the Texan asking for something to read while on the shuttle flight and Mary the stewardess gives him a huge pile of books. There's also an extra scene in line when Sonny Bono buys the $1 million dollar auto insurance policy. In the theatrical version the first time we see Sonny Bono is when he's buying the bomb in the airport all-purpose shop. None of these scenes are on the DVD as extras.

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Connections

Featured in Atop the Fourth Wall: Youngblood #4/Star Trek III: The Search for Spock #1 (2012)

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Soundtracks

Theme from 'The Love Boat'
Written by Charles Fox and Paul Williams
Performed by Jack Jones
Courtesy of Aaron Spelling Productions, Inc.

User Reviews

More of the same

Airplane II - The sequel is quite literally more of the same, same cast (I'm glad to say) except Leslie Nielson (shame that) same jokes (Most of which still work well) same plot (Only this time we are in space) and the same hero.

Given all of the above, you may wonder why bother? Put simply - it's still funny, it's still better than a lot of spoof movies and OH YES! why change a winning formula.

Aiplane 2 is inferior to its predecessor in every way, but if you enjoyed the first film, you'll be entertained by the sequel (Just not quite as much) 8/10