Sequels are notoriously known for being bad. Their reputation is not that great. There are only a select few that rally to the ranks of greatness. Golden ones that exceed the original and make it better.
These are not those sequels. But we love them anyway! Here’s a selection of films we know are bad, but damn they make us feel good!
Nativity 2 (2012)
Nativity 2 gets a whole lot of nothing in the reaction department – it’s a sequel that’s thought about very little, and discussed even less, because it is, let’s face it, pointless. But to that I say – so was the original. And honestly that’s the charm of the Nativity films. They’re pointless, they’re utterly ridiculous and implausible – and they’re festive and joyous and full of love and cheesy romance. Honestly what more could you want at Christmas? Are you telling me Jingle All The Way is a masterpiece? No, that’s what I thought. Also, David Tennant as a grumpy Scottish teacher who ends up dressed as a sparkly sequin star? I mean – if you’re not enjoying that I’m sorry but you may not have a soul.
Look Who’s Talking Now (1993)
by Georgia Sanders
Yes, Look Who’s Taking is a trilogy. And whilst purists claim that only the original starring Bruce Willis as the baby is a decent movie, and movie buffs with taste claim that they’re all terrible, I’m here to say: good taste is overrated. Danny Devito and Diane Keaton playing a Rottweiler and a Poodle odd couple who fall in love whilst Kirstie Alley and John Travolta try to raise kids and keep their marriage together despite the interference of a rich business woman, and it’s Christmas?! There is nothing there to dislike. It’s fun, it’s funny, there’s adorable kids involved, it’s got everything except a helicopter chase. It’s also my go-to sneaky Christmas film. It’s technically not a Christmas film but it’s set at Christmas and there are Christmas songs in it, and therefore fulfils my desperate need for festivity when it’s September and no-one else will sing Rat Pack Christmas covers with me. In fact fuck it, I’m gonna watch it now.
The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999)
by Cookie N Screen
As a spotty pre-pubescent teen, there was something so stellar about films that had women with power in them. No, I mean literally magical gifts. As I stared at the pencils in hopes that I could zoom it across the room, I supposed The Rage: Carrie 2 spoke to me when I was young. The Rage: Carrie 2 took a Brian De Palma and Stephen King premise and made a mockery of it. The entire film is a pointless waste of the mental energy it would take just to watch it. It’s a poor imitation of the glorious predecessor that took all that was good and reshaped it to be an oversexed trollop of a film. It came with everything people hate about reboots; a need for more blood and shocks (despite the original having bucket loads) and missed the point entirely about the isolation of Carrie and how that burned inside her. The thin connections to the original were shoddy attempt to attract an audience….. But I love it. I love its cheesiness, its dialogue, its lack of tension, and its predictability. It’s gloriously bad and made all the more better for it.
Step Up 3D (2010)
by Lee-Anne Pawley
I have personally never come across a problem that couldn’t be solved by dance. Nor have I ever come across something more important than my dance commitments. Lose yourself in the Step Up series – never before had a story so required a sequel, a 3D follow up and more. In a world of Brexit, Trump and general horribleness, it’s nice to think that we could all put aside our differences and be reunited by a totally bitching dance routine.
Scream 3 (2000)
by Cookie N Screen
Do you know when a sitcom becomes popular the main character (or characters) personality traits become exemplified and incredibly over the top? Well, that’s what happened with Scream 3. Each role, character and story is enhanced and transformed into the caricature of themselves. It’s so Meta, it’s insane. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised that as I’m writing this a killer isn’t going to phone me and chase me around the house whilst I rave on about how complicated and clichéd Scream 3 became. BUT Neve Campbell is flawless as always. She never made Sidney a simpering character, though she is often parodied as one in such awfulness like Scary Movie. There is a quiet strength to her that this time falls from the sarcastic lip or her will to survivor which is stunning and always great to watch. As for the rest of the performers, they do slip into their roles greatly despite them being overblown. The film is entertaining, with a steady foundation to party with its themes and Meta atmosphere. If you are a fan of slashers then you are going to enjoy it.
What’s your favourite “bad sequel?”
