FX2

PG-13

1991

1h 49m

Action

List

38%

16 Reviews

Tomatometer

36%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Former movie special effects expert Rollie Tyler (Bryan Brown) has now become a maker of elaborate toys. When a police officer asks him to use his special effects skills to help catch an elusive killer, he teams up with old friend and private investigator Leo McCarthy (Brian Dennehy). Using a combination of old-fashioned detective work and movie magic, the two uncover a plot involving stolen gold and corrupt cops, while evading a mysterious assassin.

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Dallas H

It's just another run-of-the-mill sequel. Hollywood loves making movies about movies that could be an easy cash grab at the box office. This one is about the same energy level as the first movie and just as cheesy.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/23/24

Full Review

Audience Member

FX 1 and 2 are so similar they could be reviewed together. Both films, particularly FX 2 must have felt already dated on release. 1970s/80s stereotypes and a cliched script will not sit comfortably with some modern audiences though some of the lines are sharp and funny, particularly those written for Brian Dennehy, who is by far the best thing in both films. Other commonalities are workmanlike direction from journeymen directors and really poor soundtracks from Bill Conti and Lalo Schiffren; two accomplished composers who are unable to write for the thriller film. FX 1 and 2 needed a more skilled 'B' movie director like John Badham who could create tension on screen. Bryan Brown does not have the screen presence or action kudos to pull off a leading man role and both films rely on Dennehy's charm and charisma to keep the audience engaged. However, despite their cheesiness, some poor acting and stunt work, and a low budget, both films are enjoyable to watch. This is due to an engaging premise, and Dennehy's scenes. He was a prolific actor who sadly passed in 2020, more known for villainous roles, but used his appeal and skill as actor to light up all his scenes in both movies. File this under Guilty pleasure.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Mike J

Sonic is a lord lord king lord lord king king lord king and king

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/29/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Richard Franklin came to America to make movies after success in his native Australia with films like Fantasm, Patrick and Road Games. He made Psycho II, Cloak and Dagger, Link and this movie here before he went back home. The script was written by Bill Condon, who also wrote Strange Behavior and Strange Invaders before moving on to direct movies like Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh, Chicago, Dreamgirls and the final two Twilight films. Rollie Tyler (Brown) has moved from simply practical effects to building a robot clown named Bluey which is controlled by a telemetry suit. This leads to an amazing fight where both Tyler and his robot are both battling a henchman. But before we get to that, we get to why Tyler is on another adventure. This time, his girlfriend Kim (Rachel Ticotin, Con Air)'s policeman ex-husband has been assigned to stakeout a killer who has already murdered one model. He asks him to entrap the man so they can get him off the streets, but the cop gets killed and Tyler is the only one with the evidence showing that he was murdered. He calls his old friend Leo McCarthy (Brian Dennehy) for help. The real story concerns stolen solid gold medallions that were cast by Michelangelo which show the figures in the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Now, Tyler has to use his F/X abilities and Leo his detective skills to get those coins back to the Vatican while avoiding the killers on their trail. While not as good as the first, the team of Brown and Dennehy is a winning one. Both F/X and F/X 2 aired often on cable when I was young, so they're comfort food to enjoy whenever I need them thanks to their blu ray release.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Liam D

By The Numbers But Fun Sequel This Thriller is a solid follow up and I want to see more of this franchise

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/20/21

Full Review

Audience Member

The story is very poorly conceived, the clown doll overused.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

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Richard Franklin

Director

Bryan Brown

Rollie Tyler

Brian Dennehy

Leo McCarthy

Rachel Ticotin

Kim Brandon

Joanna Gleason

Liz Kennedy

Philip Bosco

Ray Silak

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F/X2: Official Clip - A Flying Clown

3:13

F/X2: Official Clip - I Don't Do Windows

2:35

F/X2: Official Clip - Making Popcorn

2:03

F/X2: Official Clip - Clown Fights Back

2:30

F/X2: Official Clip - Exploding Beans

2:34

F/X2: Official Clip - Gotcha!

2:29

F/X2: Official Clip - Mike is Murdered

2:42

F/X2: Official Clip - Give Me the Gun

1:45

F/X2: Official Clip - Cue Ball Corner Pocket

1:53

F/X2: Official Clip - I Want Some Answers!

0:53

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

Brown makes a marvelous Rollie, laid-back but resolute: He would have made a marvelous James Bond. Dennehy doesn't appear until about 45 minutes into the movie, but what a difference he makes.

Jun 12, 2018

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

There should be a special category for movies that are neither good nor bad, but simply excessive.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 30, 2001

Full Review

Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

Rated: 2/5

Oct 30, 2001

Full Review

Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

...the plot, such as it is, is pure nonsense (the screenplay is credited to Bill Condon, but reeks of studio interference).

Rated: 4/10

Dec 8, 2022

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Ridiculous, implausible, yet occasionally exciting.

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 12, 2022

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a rather shameless retread...

Rated: 3/4

Feb 7, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

Former movie special effects expert Rollie Tyler (Bryan Brown) has now become a maker of elaborate toys. When a police officer asks him to use his special effects skills to help catch an elusive killer, he teams up with old friend and private investigator Leo McCarthy (Brian Dennehy). Using a combination of old-fashioned detective work and movie magic, the two uncover a plot involving stolen gold and corrupt cops, while evading a mysterious assassin.

Director: Richard Franklin
Screenwriter: Bill Condon
Production Co: Orion Pictures
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $21.0M
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Surround

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