Speed 2: Cruise Control

"Speed 2" is the disappointing sequel to the action blockbuster "Speed", which gave Sandra Bullock her big breakthrough. She is back in the sequel as Annie Porter, but in the hero's role Keanu Reeves has been replaced by Jason Patrick, and a wildly overacting Willem Dafoe has taken over Dennis Potter's villain role.

Annie is on a romantic cruise with her boyfriend Alex, but their first holiday together is brutally interrupted by the vengeful madman John Geiger, who takes control of the ship by means of an advanced remote-control device. Geiger does not shy away from murder, and he certainly has no scruples about putting the lives of the crew and passengers at risk.

Alex, who happens to belong to a police special unit and is therefore used to handling particularly critical situations, has no intention of letting Geiger get away with his plan.

"Speed 2" is certainly entertaining, but not to the same degree as the first film. Half an hour less running time - and the film would feel less overloaded and the story more credible. Instead the story is pushed right to the edge of excess, where it is hard to get involved, and you find yourself thinking of the disaster films of the 1970s, which frankly look rather clumsy today.