Arnold Schwarzeneggers originalPredatorfrom 1987 is pretty much as good as red-meat Reagan-era action movies would ever get.
In fact, its right up there with the holy trinity ofThe Terminator,RoboCop, andDie Hard.
And the director of the latest Predator sequel, Shane Black, knows that as well as anyone.
Credit: Kimberley French/Fox
After all, he was in it.
So its safe to assume that the Predator franchise holds a special place for him.
There was basically nowhere to go but up a nice position to be in.
Unfortunately, his new film makesPredator 2look likeThe Godfather 2.
Not only is it utterly unnecessary, its also surprisingly bad.
It ends up being both and neither.
For example: Hey, do you know how you circumcise a homeless guy?
In the wreckage, McKenna finds the helmet and arm gauntlet of one of the predators.
Olivia Munn, as a brainiac biologist, is on hand to provide thickets of cornball exposition.
Its not his fault that he doesnt seem to know what tone Black is after with the film.
Im not sure Black knows.
But the string of action scenes swirling around him are both nonsensical and unimaginative.
Frankly, theyre also kind of cheesy.
But its not a smart one either.
