'Mortal Kombat II' Review: A Welcomed Course Correction
The seemingly interminable wait is over for fans hungry for more blood and carnage as ‘Mortal Kombat II’ hits theaters at long last. Fortunately, the long awaited follow-up is a welcomed course correction that embraces the source material far more than its lackluster predecessor.
‘Mortal Kombat II’ introduces the fan favorite character Johnny Cage (Karl Urban), a has been action star whose glory days are seemingly far behind him until he is chosen to compete in the Mortal Kombat tournament, joining Earth’s most formidable fighters in an attempt to save their universe from falling under the rule of the insidious Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford). The cast includes new and returning players including the likes of Ludi Lin, Joe Taslim, Jessica McNamee, Adeline Rudolph, Tati Gabrielle, Mechad Brooks, Josh Lawson and Hiroyuki Sanada. With a focus on the tournament itself and a roster full of vibrant, eclectic fighters, this sequel offers plenty of much needed blockbuster entertainment.
It’s clear from the outset that this sequel has a far bigger budget, scope and sense of visual style. From the inspired re-creations of Johnny’s beloved box office hits to the action set pieces and fights, the cinematography, choreography and panache are a considerable step above the first installment. The fight sequences are far more playful, dynamic, visceral and more importantly fun, embracing the nineties-drenched zaniness in addition to the over-the-top gore and fatalities of the beloved games. Fans will not only delight in the litany of easter eggs, but will bask in the iconic match ups that don’t disappoint in the slightest. The fight sequences are not only given time to breathe and heavily entertain, but are handled with the confidence and bravura that was severely lacking in the original.
The film also has a terrific handle on tone, never taking itself too seriously or straying from the formula and aesthetic that made the games such revered pieces of pop culture entertainment, a mistake the first film unfortunately made as it attempted to steer the franchise in a different, more grounded direction in order to appeal to those not familiar with the games. The jokes fly fast and furiously, the gratuitous gore earns every ounce of the film’s R rating, and the story’s more emotional moments are handled with a committed flair that makes the sequel feel like the throwback, wonderfully cheesy nineties action film it’s clearly aiming to be.
It also helps that the protagonist in this follow-up is far more likable and emotionally compelling. Though the character’s arc may feel overly familiar due to the fact audiences have seen countless like it, Urban is able to imbue Johnny with enough humanity and gruff charm to not only elevate what’s on the page, but make Cage an underdog worth rooting for despite the rushed evolution of his character. He’s clearly relishing every second of playing the iconic action star, delivering each line with the necessary gusto and infectious energy to win viewers over with ease. Lawson remains a highlight as Kano, providing the film with its best laughs and comedic relief while Rudolph makes for a terrific Katana, capitalizing on the meaty material and backstory she’s given to sink her blades into. The film does an admirable job fleshing out her character and inner turmoil as she heads into this horrific tournament, Rudolph’s performance selling every beat of that journey deftly.
However, with as many fights and as much colorful, bloody spectacle this sequel throws at the audience, it isn’t enough to conceal the fact the story is paper thin here, as are many of the characters within it. Aside from learning that Johnny and the rest of the champions that have been assembled must fight to save Earth, there isn’t much else to the story. Once the tournament begins, the film floods audiences with fight after fight after gruesome fight in order to provide a dizzying distraction from the fact the narrative doesn’t offer much else. The overabundance of distracting CGI and green screen also doesn’t aid in this attempted magic trick, often taking the viewer out of the immersive set pieces and stakes. For fans of the games who simply want blood, mayhem and little else, that may be more than enough, but for those looking for a film with more meat on the bone, they will be sorely disappointed.
Making matters worse is the clunky dialogue and wildly uneven performances. The film certainly has its lion’s share of jokes, but the majority of them fall flat and are lazy at best. It’s clear the film wants to emulate and embrace the cheesiness of the games, but the dialogue could’ve easily used another few passes to tighten things up and provide juicier exchanges between characters that could still complement the tone, but provide much more effective laughs. The performances from the cast are all over the map, some understanding the assignment wholeheartedly and dialing their performances in perfectly to suit the energy and atmosphere of the film while others are taking the material far too seriously, registering as stiff and wooden throughout. Simply put, many members of the cast were on the same page, but some were in different books altogether.
‘Mortal Kombat II’ is a significant improvement over its predecessor in nearly every way, upping the stakes, scope, style and entertainment value in equal measure. Fans can rest assured that this second installment truly lets these beloved characters off the leash, delivering the blood-drenched, nostalgic combat they have been so desperately craving. Taking this beloved franchise back to its ridiculous, testosterone-fueled roots was an inspired creative decision and though this sequel may not be a flawless victory, it proves to be far from a fatality.