Mad Max 2

Directed by George Miller, Mad Max 2 follows Mel Gibson’s Max Rockatansky as he reluctantly agrees to help a small, gasoline-rich community escape the clutches of armed bandits. Filmmaker Miller, working from a script written with Terry Hayes and Brian Hannant, delivers a mostly entertaining actioner that benefits from Gibson’s compelling turn as the tough-as-nails protagonist, and it’s clear, as well, that the movie’s watchable atmosphere is heightened by a pared-down, streamlined narrative that effectively eschews subplots and needless diversions – with the strength of several sequences in the picture’s propulsive first half, especially Max’s initial arrival at the aforementioned community, perpetuating the gritty, take-no-prisoners vibe. There’s little doubt, however, that Mad Max 2 finds itself unable to sustain the taut, high-octane feel of its first half, as the movie progresses into an erratically-paced midsection that contains a few too many lulls and odd digressions – including (and especially) a pointless, prolonged sequence involving Max’s efforts to escape before the battle has started. It’s impossible to deny that the predictably over-the-top climax is, as a result, unable to pack the exciting, visceral punch Miller has undoubtedly intended, which ultimately does cement Mad Max 2‘s place as a decent yet somewhat disappointing sequel that falls right in line with its far-from-spectacular predecessor.

**1/2 out of ****