THE BOONDOCK SAINTS 2 (USA 2009) **
Directed by Troy Duffy

One-cult-film-phenomenon filmmaker Troy Duffy returns with a sequel almost 10 years later about a pair of vigilante Irish brothers that got rid of crime in the Boston Irish district.

The first BOONDOCK SAINTS was a quirky ultra-violent, foul but highly entertaining actioner that benefited from director Duffy’s maverick filmmaking.  His style has been compared to Quentin Tarantino’s.  But what is also best remembered from the film is Willem Defoe’s unforgettable performance as a ***censored***-hating FBI agent (who sleeps with men) on the case.

At the promo screening in Toronto of THE BOONDOCK SAINTS 2, director Troy Duffy (who was present) gave a long spill on how successful his film did on a per screen average despite bad reviews and competition on the past weekend from Halloween and a major sports weekend.  His attitude that his film is damned good and the BOONDOCK SAINTS fan base cannot be shaken seems to have gone to his head.  And it shows in his film.

THE BONDOCK SAINTS 2 is a narrative mess.  Duffy does not bother to tell his story effectively or relate much of the story of the first film to this one.  One main character (not to be revealed in this review) appears as a major surprise towards the end without any explanation.

The MacManus Brothers (Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus reprising their original roles) appear in Boston after their mark has been behind following the murder of a Catholic priest.  Again out to clear their name, but they have a run in with a sexy FBI agent, special agent Eunice Bloom (Julie Benz).  Nothing more needs to be said about the plot but that violence, swearing and blood and gore naturally follows the brothers in their quest to clear their name.

THE BOONDOCK SAINTS 2 has its moments of mayhem with occasional spouts of brilliance.  But on the whole, Duffy’s film is a repeated affair of the same.  Though Duffy introduces another quirky FBI agent to give the brothers a hard time, Benz, as good as she is, is no match for Defoe’s character.  The film is littered with anti-gay jokes, but this was (deemed) all right in the first film, as it involved Defoe’s gay character.  Despite Duffy’s outlandish directing, the film’s story follows a formulaic pattern for films in this genre.