Weekend at Bernie's II (DVD, 2001)

"Weekend at Bernie's II"...if the first film didn't seem like it was running out of fuel by the end, then most rightfully deemed the sequel unjustified. A film the studio felt so insecure about they shelved it for 2 years before pawning it off to the summer time movie crowd and their mercy. A film that supposedly takes place "the next day" yet all the actors have aged noticebly. In all fairness...WHO CARES? "Weekend at Bernie's II" is a cash cow, like any studio film, and people just need to get over that because it's really not a bad film at the end of the day, despite what your brother's girlfriend's uncle might have said.

The plot is a struggle, but set your mind aside and it's seemingly plausible. A voodoo priestess summons two NY nit wits vacationing in the Virgin Islands and forces them to retrieve Bernie so that his "revived" corpse may lead them to the millions he swandered from false insurance claims in the first film. All the while our returning heroes are attempting to find the money that Bernie also hid after inheriting his personal effects, which include a safe deposit key and a treasure map. It's hokey, I can't deny that. It's incredibly over the top. But it's aware of it's extreme scenarios and nothing is ever taken seriously. EVER. I can appreciate a film like that.

The primary characters return, and in all honesty I thoroughly enjoyed Jonathan Silverman and Andrew McCarthy's antics. They may have aged 4 years between films, but they haven't lost the signature chemistry. And that chemistry is the driving force of this film. Aside the lush landscapes and beautiful scenery of the Virgin Islands and "dead" Bernie's constant, almost perverse, smirk, of course.

"Weekend at Bernie's II" is one of the last theatrical nails in the brat pack coffin. By the early 90s, all the sure fire hit makers of the 80s crew were now aging and not making returns at the box office. The Brat Packers were growing up, God forbid. This film holds nostalgia for me, and it might be what gives me my leniency in judging it, but it evokes youthful memories and I'm still able to enjoy it; even if on a child like level. The imagery is beautiful. Whether it be NYC, or the crystal blue waters of the Virgin Islands, it was made with some technical expertise that some might argue was more than the film deserved. The ethnic music is catchy, and the competent cast is what ultimately saves the day.

"Weekend at Bernie's II" is not comparable to its predecessor in terms of one liners, memorable scenes, and laughs, but it does hold a different kind of humor with character eccentricities and physical antics, and technically it has matured greatly. I imagine some people enjoying this for what it is, because it's not a bad film and can be entirely enjoyable, but I fear most people will succumb to the attitude already laid out for this film, and deem it D.O.A.

Stupid. Mindless. Insane. A Gene pick. Check your brain at the door and have some fun at Bernie's expense! Despite what people said at the time about this being about the worst sequel of all time (hello caddyshack 2 - im looking at you) it offers alot of fun on a ridiculous level. Richie and Larry are fired from the insurance company, Bernie has a safety deposit box in the US Virgin Islands. Need Bernie there to get it. Much different in tone from the first, not to mention continuity, but still great locales, & a cast/corpse that's up for anything. If you liked the first one there's no reason not to get on board. If you hated it, well, it's still better than the Love Guru.

Millionaire executive Bernie Lomax is much like the mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent in that they both hold big secrets that everyone else should be able to figure out. The difference, though, is that Clark Kent is Superman, and Bernie Lomax is, well, dead. Just as no one has ever figured out that Superman is Clark Kent minus the glasses, no one in Weekend at Bernie’s notices that the silent, still, Bernie is no longer among the living. The premise for Weekend at Bernie’s, an amusing situation comedy from, improbably, the director of First Blood, is so ridiculous it can only make you smile…or shake your head in disappointment. Either way, a film like this may gain a certain type of infamy not so much for being terrible but for being one big joke. Only towards the end, the joke starts to wear thin. but a good movie if you like the plot.

i did enjoy my purchase of this movie weekend at bernie's II on DVD its a very funny movie woith Andrew Mccarthy of Pretty in Pink i love this movie and i'm leaving excellent feedback.

I HAVE ALREADY WEEKEND AT BERNIES, AND WEEKEND AT BERNIES 2, I HAVE THE 1ST ONE ON DVD, AND HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR THE 2ND ONE FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS NOW, AND CAN'T SEEM TO FIND IT ANYWHERE IN THE UK, BEING A NEW USER TO ABAY, I THOUGHT I'D TAKE A LOOK AND THERE IT WAS... I WAS SO THRILLED, IT IS AN AMAZINGLY FUNNY FILM, ABSOLUTELY HILLARIOUS!!! WILL HAVE MUCH PLEASURE IN WATCHING IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN!!!!