Alligator 2: The Mutation (1991)

B-Movie monster movie sequels are usually a case of diminishing returns.  The first one works, despite the budget, and studio figures it can replicate the success with less money, often resulting in a disaster.  But Alligator 2: The Mutation bucks that trend.  The script is pretty good, the cast does a fine job and, with a few minor issues, the film is more enjoyable than you'd expect.

The film takes place, I think, in Florida.  The state is never mentioned, but it doesn't matter.  The Hispanic population is being forced to sell their homes to a sleazy realtor, Vincent Brown (Steve Railsback; Lifeforce), so he can proceed with his gentrification scheme.  And his chemical company has been dumping toxic waste into the sewer, resulting in an alligator of unusual size starting to chomp on the local population.  

Detective David Hodges (Joseph Bologna; Transylvania 6-5000) becomes involved in the case of missing locals.  He's having a rough time in his domestic life, as he works nights and his wife, Christine (Dee Wallace, The Howling, Cujo) works days.  And he can't break away from his investigation of several missing people, one possible connected to a leg found floating in the local lake, to make it home in time to celebrate his birthday.

David has the respect of the Hispanic residents, called "Solo Lobo."  This includes the local gang, who are united against Brown's attempts to buy up their home to create a high priced paradise.  David doesn't like Brown either, but is unable to move against him, as he hasn't broken any laws.  But as he investigates the missing persons, he suspects Brown is involved.

Yes, it's the White Savior trope with a healthy dose of 80s action hero bits.   And it shouldn't work, as Bologna is not 80s action hero material.  His single fight scene is pitifully choreographed, and he lacks the gritty swagger of someone like Chuck Norris.  Guess it's lucky this film was made in the early 90s.

Look, I'm the white hero.  I got this.

But Bologna sells it by playing an ordinary guy just trying to do his job.  Though the script has characters hint at his over-ability to get things done, his performance works better than you'd expect.

Teaming up with his wife, rookie cop Rich Harmon (Woody Brown) and the mayor's daughter, Sheri Anderson (Holly Gagnier) David proves an abnormally large gator is in the lake and attempt to take the critter out.  This puts Brown's lakeside party, designed to buy up their local's homes, in jeopardy.  But he has the mayor (Bill Daily, I Dream of Jeannie) in his pocket, so he's able to hire a group of gator hunters, lead by Hawk Hawkins (Richard Lynch, Bad Dreams, Invasion U.S.A.) to kill the gator.  

No one succeeds, and, as expected, gator mayhem ensues during Brown's party.

 It's the third act.  Time for me to crash the party!

Look, this film isn't great and has quite a few flaws.  David and Christine's son appears early in the movie, but is conveniently removed after that.  Time passage is pretty wonky, as the time of day are dependent on the needs of the effects to be hidden by darkness.  Brown and Gagnier, while fine, fall short compared to the more veteran actors, we have a third act murder that would NEVER work in real life, and it's obvious the film reuses scenes from the original.  And the damn gator swims without moving it's tail! Come on, how hard would it have been to add a small motor to the fake gator you're pulling on a string?

Come on, you had a tail swatting people at the party.  You could have had the tail while the gator was swimming.

But despite its flaws, Alligator 2 works as a fun flick to watch on a rainy Pacific Northwest afternoon.  The script, by Curt Allen (the last film of his six credits, which is too bad, though he ended on a high note) delivers some great, realistic dialog you'd expect from people dealing with a giant mutant gator.  And his dialog between David and Christine allows the actors to feel like a real couple.  

Director Jon Hess (Watchers) keeps the story moving fast enough that the silliness of the plot doesn't get in the way.  And as an added bonus, we get that classic 80s stereotype, the gruff police chief riding David's ass (Brock Peters, Soylent Green, Star Trek IV and Star Trek VI).

While the chief's interactions with David are great, the chemistry between Bologna and Wallace, as a couple struggling through a rough spot in their relationship, is even better.  It helps that Christine is a chemist who identifies the chemical Brown's company has dumped into the sewage system, but also knows enough about predatory animals to help in the investigation.  Yeah, she's the old 50s scientist who has a vast knowledge of SCIENCE!, allowing her to know about everything.  Hey, it worked back in the old black and white films, why not now. 

 You know I know SCIENCE!, I'm looking into a microscope.

As I mentioned, the more seasoned actors play it straight, though it's obvious they know what type of movie they're in.  It makes the film work, like some of the 50s creature features such as The Giant Claw.  Sure, you may laugh at the effects and the wonky SCIENCE!, but the actors sell it.  And what more can you ask for.

It's a rarity, but Alligator 2: The Mutation is a decent follow up to a classic B-Movie.  You might not have wanted a sequel to the classic Robert Foster original, but that doesn't mean it's not fun to watch.  You can find it on Shudder, or buy it on Blu-Ray from Shout Factory.  And no, I won't get anything from however you check it out.  I just enjoyed it, and think you will too.

Look, I know we're expendable.  Just don't act like it.