Okay, fellow tapeheads, let’s talk about a sequel that landed on the video store shelves with the kind of anticipation usually reserved for… well, something better. It’s 1988, the original Caddyshack (1980) is enshrined in the Comedy Hall of Fame (or at least, the hall of fame in our VCRs), and then Caddyshack II appears. The familiar logo, the gopher… but something feels off even from the box art. This isn't just a sequel; it's a fascinating, slightly baffling artifact of late-80s studio logic, a cinematic ghost haunting the legacy of its brilliant predecessor.
Same Course, Different Game
The setup echoes the original: new money clashes with old snobbery at the upscale Bushwood Country Club. This time, crude but good-hearted real estate developer Jack Hartounian (Jackie Mason) wants in, horrifying the WASP-y establishment led by Chandler Young (Robert Stack). There’s romance, class warfare, and, yes, the gopher is back, now looking suspiciously plusher and more animatronic. The DNA is there, meticulously copied but somehow missing the vital spark. It feels less like a natural continuation and more like someone tried to rebuild a gourmet meal using only the microwave instructions.
Director Allan Arkush, known for the infectious energy of Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979), seems somewhat lost here. Where the original crackled with anarchic improv and lightning-in-a-bottle chemistry, Caddyshack II feels constrained, relying on broader, more predictable gags. You can almost feel the studio notes piling up on the fairway. It's a shame, as Arkush usually brings a vibrant, almost cartoonish life to his projects.
The Elephant (or Gopher) in the Room
Let's address the casting. Jackie Mason, a legendary stand-up comedian, steps into the "disruptive outsider" role. It’s not really fair to compare him directly to Rodney Dangerfield's Al Czervik – they're different comedic animals. Mason brings his distinct rhythm and persona, but the script, co-written by Harold Ramis (who directed the original and later famously disowned this sequel), doesn't give him the same killer material. Retro Fun Fact: Ramis initially tried to develop a sequel focusing on Dangerfield and Chevy Chase's characters, but when Dangerfield backed out citing creative differences and dissatisfaction with the script (reportedly calling it "terrible"), the project morphed into this quasi-remake. Ramis later admitted he primarily did it for the money and regretted his involvement.
Robert Stack is reliably stern as the antagonist, bringing some of that Airplane! (1980) deadpan, and Dyan Cannon vamps it up admirably as his social-climbing wife. But then there's Chevy Chase, reprising Ty Webb in what amounts to an extended, slightly awkward cameo. He reportedly signed on as a favor but looks visibly disengaged, wandering through scenes like he’s searching for the exit. His Ty Webb here is less Zen philosopher, more confused bystander. Another Retro Fun Fact: Chase allegedly clashed with Arkush and only agreed to about six days of filming, contributing to the disjointed feel of his scenes. He later called his participation a mistake.
Trying Hard, Falling Short
You have to acknowledge the effort in some areas. The production looks expensive – maybe even more so than the original. The budget was reportedly around $20 million (a hefty sum in '88, maybe $50 million today!), significantly more than the original's lean $6 million. But where did it go? The gags feel recycled or forced. Remember the iconic Baby Ruth scene? Here, we get… well, less memorable attempts at gross-out humor. The golf tournament climax feels obligatory rather than inspired.
Even the gopher, now a more technically sophisticated puppet voiced by the legendary Frank Welker, lacks the simple, destructive charm of the original's varmint. It feels less like a force of nature and more like a studio mandate. The practical effects involved in its antics are there, sure – little explosions, burrowing mechanisms – but they don't have that same chaotic energy that defined the first film's physical comedy. It all feels a bit too polished, too planned.
The film tanked, barely making back half its budget at the box office ($11.8 million) and getting savaged by critics. It wasn't just a disappointment; it became a cautionary tale about sequels, especially comedy sequels where the original magic was so tied to specific performers and a specific, freewheeling moment in time. I distinctly remember renting this from the local Video Palace, full of hope fueled by the original's genius, and feeling… deflated. It wasn't offensively awful in the way some cheap knock-offs are, but it was profoundly mediocre, lacking the joyful chaos that made Caddyshack immortal.
Final Putt
Caddyshack II isn't aggressively terrible, but it's a hollow echo. It’s a fascinating case study in how not to make a sequel – throwing money at the screen, mimicking plot points, but missing the heart, soul, and anarchic spirit. The behind-the-scenes drama is arguably more entertaining than the film itself.
Rating: 3/10 - The rating reflects the film's fundamental failure to capture any of the original's magic, hampered by awkward casting choices (through no fault of Mason's talent, just the fit), a weak script, and a general lack of comedic inspiration. Points are awarded mainly for production effort and the unintentional comedy of its existence.
VHS Heaven Verdict: A textbook example of 80s sequelitis gone wrong. Worth watching? Maybe once, purely as a cinematic curiosity or to witness the trainwreck unfold, but keep that fast-forward button handy and your copy of the original nearby for palate cleansing. It's less "Be the ball" and more "Just shanked it into the woods."