Critters 2

A very mild improvement over its seriously lackluster predecessor, Critters 2 follows several townspeople, including Scott Grimes’ Brad and Sam Anderson’s Mr. Morgan, as they’re once again forced to battle the titular outer-space creatures. Filmmaker Mick Garris, working from his and D.T. Twohy’s screenplay, delivers a predictably sluggish endeavor that gets off to a watchable (albeit far-from-enthralling) start, as the picture, which at least runs an appreciatively short 86 minutes, boasts a first half focused on the amiable exploits of the various characters – with the decent-enough vibe enhanced by the likeable efforts of performers like Grimes, Liane Curtis, and Barry Corbin. It’s clear, too, that Critters 2 benefits from Garris’ lighthearted approach and emphasis on silly, fun digressions, including title monsters wreaking havoc within a local diner and a space assassin disguised as a Playboy model, and yet there’s little doubt that the movie wears out its welcome once it arrives at its dimly-lit, action-oriented climax – with the end result a fairly disposable sequel that admittedly could’ve been worse.

** out of ****