Laughter Hits Turbulence at High Altitude

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MOVIE REVIEW
Airplane II: The Sequel (4KUHD)
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Genre: Comedy, Sci-Fi
Year Released: 1982, Kino Lorber 4K 2025
Runtime: 1h 25m
Director(s): Ken Finkleman
Writer(s): Ken Finkleman, Al Jean, Mike Reiss
Cast: Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Lloyd Bridges, William Shatner, Peter Graves, Raymond Burr, Chuck Connors, Rip Torn, John Dehner, Chad Everett, Kent McCord, John Vernon, Sonny Bono, Richard Jaeckel, Sandahl Bergman, Rick Overton, David Paymer, Hervé Villechaize
Where to Watch: available now, order your copy here: www.kinolorber.com or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: Sequels to revolutionary comedies almost always face impossible expectations, and AIRPLANE II: THE SEQUEL is no exception. Released in 1982, just two years after the smash hit AIRPLANE!, this follow-up attempted to recapture the lightning in a bottle by sending the disaster parody into outer space. The setup is simple but ripe for gags: the first commercial lunar shuttle malfunctions, its computer system goes haywire, and Ted Striker (Robert Hays) once again must save the day, all while reconciling with Elaine (Julie Hagerty). With a cast stacked with recognizable names like Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, William Shatner, Rip Torn, and Sonny Bono, the film had every opportunity to ride high on the original’s momentum.

The biggest difference this time around is behind the camera. The original’s creative trio — David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker—did not return, leaving writer-director Ken Finkleman in charge. The absence of the ZAZ team is felt immediately. While Finkleman keeps the film packed with gags at a rapid pace, much of the material feels familiar, sometimes directly lifted from the original. Jokes about miscommunication, absurd literalism, and sight gags dominate again, but the freshness that made Airplane! so groundbreaking is missing.

The opening half-hour contains some sharp parody, and Finkleman ensures there’s almost always a joke on screen — whether in the dialogue, the background, or visual throwaways. Some sequences, especially those featuring William Shatner as the shuttle commander, have aged into cult-favorite status. Shatner’s exaggerated delivery and deadpan commitment inject new life into a film that otherwise feels like a retread. Similarly, Lloyd Bridges reprises his role as the increasingly frazzled McCroskey, wringing humor out of escalating chaos.

The ensemble is one of the movie’s strengths. With veterans like Raymond Burr, Chuck Connors, and John Vernon popping in for cameos or side roles, the cast plays it straight enough for the absurdity to land. Hays and Hagerty reprise their leads, but the script doesn’t give them much new material beyond echoing their first-film arcs. Notably absent is Leslie Nielsen, whose presence in the original became iconic; his commitment to POLICE SQUAD! at the time, meant the beloved Dr. Rumack only appeared in flashback footage. That loss is significant, as Nielsen’s bone-dry delivery was a key reason the first film was as successful as it was.

Critics and audiences were split on AIRPLANE II at its release. Some praised the film for being wall-to-wall with jokes — so many that if one didn’t land, another followed within seconds. Others felt that this approach diluted its impact, leaving the movie more like a patchwork of sketches than a cohesive comedy. Over time, its reputation has settled into the middle ground: funny enough for fans of zany spoofs, but rarely ranked among the genre’s best.

Kino Lorber’s 2025 4K UHD release gives AIRPLANE II a new lease on life for collectors. With a Dolby Vision transfer from the 35mm negative, new audio commentaries, and supplemental materials, this edition treats the sequel with more care than it’s often received critically. For physical media enthusiasts, the upgrade offers an opportunity to reassess the film outside its original context — as a relic of the early '80s wave of spoofs that included TOP SECRET! and the Naked Gun series.

Still, when stacked against its predecessor, AIRPLANE II struggles to justify itself. It has laughs, sure, and remains far superior to many later parody films that descended into laziness (EPIC MOVIE, DISASTER MOVIE, and the like). But where the first film felt like a chaotic revelation, this one feels like an echo. It’s a movie that wants to be wilder, zanier, and bigger — the addition of space, Shatner, and more cameo faces attests to that — but without the original team’s precision, much of the humor feels recycled.

AIRPLANE II is a sequel that coasts on charm more than originality if you loved AIRPLANE! and just want more of the same in a slightly different setting, this will scratch the itch. If you’re looking for the surprise and sharpness of the first outing, you may find yourself disappointed. As a comedy artifact, it’s still worth watching, and in its new 4K restoration, it’s the best it has ever looked. But for all its high-flying ambition, this shuttle doesn’t quite clear the stratosphere. Funny, sometimes effective, but undeniably weaker than the original.

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[photo courtesy of KINO LORBER]

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