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SALT LAKE CITY — "Red 2" is headed to theaters this weekend, just a week after the Adam Sandler comedy "Grown Ups 2" graced us with its presence.
While I haven't seen "Red 2," I'm hoping it captures some of the fun and silliness of the first, but with it and especially "Grown Ups 2" I couldn't stop thinking about unnecessary sequels. So, to put my mind at ease I decided to throw this little list together.
Here are five of the most unnecessary sequels of all time.
#poll
When the first "Taken" was released in 2008 it caught pretty much everyone off guard. It was well paced, dark, intriguing and we realized Liam Neeson could possibly take Chuck Norris on mano-a-mano. Please don't tell Chuck I said that.
Fast forward to 2012 when we got "Taken 2" and you realize as you walk out of the theater you were Taken 2 the cleaners, because you spent money to see that garbage. See what I did there?
The movie was uninspired and boring. It seemed like Liam Neeson had zero interest in being in the film and would rather have been taking a nap than saving his family.
I love Jason Bateman and I love "Teen Wolf." However, when you add those two things stuff gets hairy. I promise I'm done with those. Seriously though, "Teen Wolf Too " is not good.
The 1987 film was a nightmare compared to the original. Granted, "Teen Wolf" isn't an amazing film, but it was fun, silly and it had Michael J. Fox. The sequel had none of those things.
If you haven't seen it, consider yourself lucky and move on with your day.
"Speed" was a surprise success in 1994 that delighted audiences. In an attempt to ride that cash cow a little longer we were given the 1997 gem known as "Speed 2: Cruise Control."
This movie even managed to get the original writer and director on board, not to mention Sandra Bullock, and it still turned into an utter mess. Who knew Keanu Reeves would be so critical to the quality of a franchise?
There's not much to be said about this movie other than this: There are bad movies and there's "Speed 2."
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Crystal Skull
"Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" was released in 1989 and it was the perfect cap to one of the most fun movie franchises of all time. But then we got greedy, and we paid for it.
After nearly 20 years Steven Spielberg and George Lucas finally gave us what we all thought we wanted and the world was never the same.
This movie was so ridiculous and bad that the saying "jumping the shark" was replaced with "nuking the fridge."
When I walked out of the theater after watching "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Crystal Skull" on opening night, there were more sad and depressed faces than at a child's birthday party where there is broccoli and cauliflower instead of cake and ice cream.
If you'd rather have broccoli and cauliflower than cake and ice cream at a birthday party you probably really liked Indy 4 and you and I don't see eye to eye on most of the world, but I respect your decision to laugh reason in the face.
Anything after Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
"Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" is synonymous with swashbuckling fun and adventure. Every pirates movie after the original is synonymous with incoherent, panic-inducing rubbish.
I know I'm making some enemies with this, considering how much money those films have made, but I cannot condone the watching or supporting of these films. More creativity and coherent storytelling goes into an episode of "Dora the Explorer" than these movies.
So, this is clearly an opinion, but instead of lining Johnny Depp's pockets with more greenbacks and giving Disney a reason to keep making these movies, I think I'd rather buy a quesadilla and sit on my living room floor. It'd be more mentally stimulating.
There you have it, five of the most unnecessary sequels ever made. What would be on your list? Let me know on the comment boards, Facebook or send me an email.
