Plot: What’s it about?
Too Sweet (Leon Isaac Kennedy) is back on the streets as a free man and looking to keep out of trouble, as well as hang up his boxing gloves for good. He moves in with his sister and her family and quickly sparks a romance with Clarisse (Eugenia Wright), which seems as though it has some serious potential. But his newly reclaimed life as a free man isn’t as free as he though, since his parole demands that he work for Sam Cunningham, who has some plans in store for Too Sweet, including a return to the ring. Since he has no interest in stepping inside the boxing ring Too Sweet refuses, but Sam lays the pressure on all the time in hopes of wearing him down. So while Too Sweet attempts to begin his new life he is hammered by Sam’s pressure which makes it difficult to maintain a normal life. As if matters aren’t complicated enough for Too Sweet, his arch enemy Half Dead (Ernie Hudson) has broken free from prison and is looking to destroy Too Sweet and his family. Can Too Sweet overcome the odds once again?
As if the original Penitentiary movie wasn’t offbeat and entertaining enough, Jamaa Fanaka returned to create a sequel that surpass the original in both areas. While I believe the first film is the better movie it terms of writing/acting, this one is leaps and bounds ahead in terms of creativity and entertainment value. This one has the same theme of boxing and Too Sweet’s quest for freedom, but the atmosphere and characters around that theme have taken a turn into the bizarre, which I feel is a good thing. This one also has more humor than the original which makes the film a little more approachable, at least in my opinion. The fight scenes are just as potent let me assure you, since there are a vital ingredient in this series to be sure. I have to say that while this installment is on the strange side of town, I feel the writing present is an improvement over the original. The process by which the storyline unfolds is more fluid and enjoyable and the characters are more easy to relate to and watch. Just as I recommend the original film, I recommend this sequel to fans of exploitation movies looking for a classic to add to their collections.
This film was written, produced, and directed by Jamaa Fanaka who is the man behind this series in every aspect. Fanaka might not be a household name to most movie fans, but those who follow exploitation and cult movies sure know his name. Most people I know think is a weaker film than the original, but I feel Fanaka’s skills as both writer and director shine through better in this follow up. In any case Fanaka has once again overcome low budget to deliver a solid and entertaining cult classic, one that belongs in any true exploitation fan’s collection. Of course he also did the two other Penitentiary movies, but Fanaka also wrote and directed Street Wars, Welcome Home Brother Charlie, and Emma Mae. While the acting in this movie is bad, that’s not a bad thing. You see the acting is so bad, it is good and fun to watch which makes it a good thing. Leon Isaac Kennedy (Hollywood Vice Squad) returns as Too Sweet and loses his edge from the first film, though he is still realistic as the character. The supporting cast is terrific and includes Mr. T (The A*Team), Ernie Hudson (The Substitute, Ghostbusters), Malik Carter (Cobra, Black Belt Jones), and Dolemite himself Rudy Ray Moore (Human Tornado, B*A*P*S).
Video: How does it look?
Penitentiary 2 is presented in a 1.85:1 widescreen transfer, which is not enhanced for widescreen televisions. This is a low budget movies that isn’t a spring chicken in terms of age, so don’t expect a crystal clear transfer on this release. The visual presentation is solid though and has a very good source print, also I noticed no compression errors. The colors are very natural in tone but display some brightness and flesh tones look natural as well. Some scenes display overly bright regions, but usually the contrast is deep and accurate. If you’ve been waiting for a good looking version of this film, this is your chance.
Audio: How does it sound?
This release uses a stereo track which handles the elements well, though a surround track would have been welcome. The music is campy and effective, showing no signs of age or distortion and the effects come across in a clear and audible manner as well. The dialogue is also sharp and has no volume or separation issues present I could detect.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release contains trailers for the first two films in the series as well an audio commentary by director Jamaa Fanaka. If you like this series this is a track you won’t want to miss, as Fanaka spills all sorts of inside information on the movies. There are some silent gaps here and there, but overall this is an interesting track and worth the time to check out.
