Ten Years Later 'Boondock Saints' Return In Sequel

By in Entertainment,

After the movie's opening was plagued by pushed back release times due to historical tragedies, the much anticipated sequel to Troy Duffey's engrossing 1999 hit "Boondock Saints" finally comes out, a decade later. One note- since this movie is primarily directed at the people that have seen its predecessor, this review may contain a lot of comments in that same vein, but I'll make sure things are explained.

Fans of the original cult favorite will appreciate the closeness to detail the director paid in "Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day." Contrary to popular rumor, Willem Dafoe does in fact reprise his role as Detective Smecker towards the end of the film. The three bumbling cops in on the scheme from the first incarnation in the series return as well, as detectives Dolly, Duffy and Greenly.

To catch people up to the first movie, after a near death experience and finding God, brothers Connor and Murphy (Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus) go on a killing spree, slowly taking out various members of Boston's mob and gangster scene, eventually culminating in an execution style slaying of the leader of the most notorious crime family in a crowded courtroom during the criminal's trial.

The plot of the movie is straightforward; although the first one ended with the brothers and their father, played by Billy Connolly, swearing that they will continue their angry acts of vengeance on the generally less virtuous population of Boston. Ten years later, though, the brothers are back in Ireland with their pops, having escaped from the cops and deciding they were better off living in hiding. After the assassination of their friend is carried out across an ocean or two in America, in the brothers' style, they realize they are being framed and called out. They decide to go back to Boston, locate the man that did it and essentially end him.

The movie is fleshed out in pretty similar manner to the first film, with slightly jagged camera use in the fight scenes, focused cinematography on character movements in the same light and the turncoat FBI character that ends up helping the brothers is essentially a tranny hooker. While Willem Dafoe actually rocked out in lady's clothing- and it was a valid plot point- in the first movie, this time the role is played by an actual female. Julie Benz plays Special Agent Eunice Bloom, a detective with the same odd ability as Willem Dafoe's character from the first movie to look at a scene and piece together everything that happens while listening to some Mastodon or Phish, whatever comes on her iPod.

The movie goes on as expected. The brothers meet up with a new sidekick to make up for the fact that Roc – their trusty one liner slinging pal – died in the first film. Romeo, played by the versatile Clifton Collins Jr., adds that much needed comedy and guy-who-gets-shit-on angle for the film to feel balanced away from sheer character development and carnage. The new team decides to get together and avenge the death of the brothers' friend. This leads them on a long and extremely death defying path. Thanks to luck and the fact that almost everyone looking for them is also rooting for them, they get away scot-free the majority of the time.

Eventually, for no reason other than she was Detective Smecker's protégé, Special Agent Bloom announces that she is actually on the brothers' team, and oh sure she can help them kill the man that had their friend murdered. While I appreciate the fact that it runs more parallel to the first movie with this aspect, it seems a little contrived as far as the plot goes.

In the end, I think that parts of this movie might feel a little overdone or too unrealistic for people unfamiliar with Troy Duffy and his Saints' ways. For the other crowd, those that have seen the first movie and know what to expect, this will seem like a welcome piece of the puzzle, with enough references to the first movie and familiar action and dialogue to help keep your attention. Either way, I recommend you see it in theaters while you can.

I give this movie a 7.5/10.

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