Lawnmower Man 2 - Beyond Cyberspace
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Patrick Bergin
Matt Frewer
Austin O'Brien
Ely Pouget
Kevin Conway
Camille Cooper
Matt Frewer replaces Jeff Fahey as Jobe, who was transformed into a genius living in a computerized virtual reality in the last film, which is briefly recapped here. Now evil corporate interests (personified by Kevin Conway and Camille Cooper as the maniacal plutocrat and his icy assistant) have brought Jobe back to design a new computer system, to create a global network linking all computers that will be impossible to escape.
Representing the forces of good are a group of kids led by Peter (Austin O'Brien, repeating his role from the first movie) and Dr Benjamin Trace (Patrick Bergin), the ex-scientist who designed the ultimate computer chip only to see his investors steal it away.
Managing to transcend the formulaic plot are Frewer and Bergin, whose performances make the film work. Frewer, reunited with his Max Headroom director, Farhad Mann, veers from the real Jobe to the megalomaniacal virtual Jobe without missing a beat.
The film rises or falls on its special effects, credited to Cinesite. While pic doesn't appear to break new ground in its cyberspace elements, it is handsome throughout, the integration of live actors with the virtual sets seamless. The CD-ROM version was reportedly shot at the same time so that the two versions will closely resemble each other.
(Color) Available on VHS, DVD. Extract of a review from 1996. Running time: 93 MIN.
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