With the makers of this lamentable sequel even using brief footage of Jennifer Lopez's performance in Tarsem Singh's highly artistic original, The Cell 2 makes the fatal mistake of banking on a very popular cult film, hoping to bring back the fan base for another run. Too bad there's little there to keep interest.
The Cell 2 Brief Synopsis
Maya (Tessie Santiago, looking like a Latina Sandra Bullock) is a former FBI investigator who happened to survive the experience of having been abducted and "murdered" by a serial killer named The Cusp (Frank Whaley, Vacancy). What makes The Cusp so notorious, is that he sadistically kills is victims, but then goes through the ordeal of reviving them, just so he can repeat the feat once again, and again, until the victim gives out.
What makes Maya so special, is that following a lengthy coma (courtesy of The Cusp's abuse) she now has a psychic ability to enter the memories of another, something which has given her an edge in her investigations.
When the niece of the local Sheriff is abducted by The Cusp (in order to probably lure Maya back in to finish the job), our heroine goes after him, looking to get into the most dangerous place she could possibly fathom: the killer's mind. Using her skills to try and find him, Maya races against time, before The Cusp adds another permanent kill to his score.
The Cell 2 Overall Analysis
First off, let us be clear: there are many problems with this film, least of which are the visual effects. As stated earlier, it's hard to justify a direct-to-video sequel, if one isn't willing to at least approximate Tarsem's intense visual imagery, in the 2000 original.
Director Tim Iacofano seems ill equipped to take on this project, and the overall product suffers greatly from it. From the uneven pace of the story, to the myriad loose ends and plot holes, The Cell 2 comes off as more of a student film, and less of a worthy sequel to an already popular standalone film.
Iacofano has experience producing network television shows, and probably did this on a lark, for the good folks at Warner. That being said, he fails to hold what passes for a story together, and the audience is only too eager to get to the ending, hoping for a modicum of dénouement, or even a gratuitous chase or fight scene.
Most of the film deals with the guilt the Maya character feels at her failure to apprehend the killer, though she wouldn't have had a chance without this newly acquired psychic ability. This is one of many faults, with what feels like a rushed script by Alex Barder, Rob Rinow and Lawrence Silverstein.
The Cast of The Cell 2
Though there are a handful of victims and supporting characters with throwaway lines, the only two actors worthy of mention are the leads, Tessie Santiago and Frank Whaley. As The Cusp, Whaley comes off as inappropriate, though he plays sniveling and psychopathic well enough. Those who recall his turn as twisted motel clerk Mason in Vacancy will feel his casting as appropriate in this one; Whaley probably realized the extent of how silly this script is, and decided to have some good fun with this villainous role.
As for Tessie Santiago...well, every movie needs a protagonist. Let us not assume that Jennifer Lopez's histrionic talent was instrumental in the success of the original, most of the reason for her casting was esthetic in nature. Santiago provides a modicum of allure in Cell 2, but really, most of her role is to act opposite ethereal walled images, of the killr's memories, in what looked like a back room corridor, at Max Headroom's summer cottage. Her angst at her failures is implausible, and totally unbelievable.
The Final Word on The Cell 2 Bluray
Should you be desperate for a quick rental, which contains the kind of premium-channel late night violence unavailble on normal network TV, then The Cell 2 is for you. Anyone looking for another dose of pseudo-erotic imagery, is bound for severe disappointment, as yet another film counts on name recognition on the rental shelves.
Note: The behind the scenes feature on the Bluray isn't even worthwhile, so let us skip it.
2 out of 10, for a barely watchable, sad excuse for a bad sequel in name only.
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