Speed 2 - Cruise Control (1997)

2% of critics liked it
(52 reviews)
28% of users liked it
(204,130 ratings)

Indications were that this action sequel was in trouble before production began, when the male lead from the first film, Keanu Reeves, declined a role in the follow-up. Sandra Bullock returns as Annie Porter, an accident-prone ditz who is thrilled when her boyfriend Alex (Jason Patric) presents her… More Indications were that this action sequel was in trouble before production began, when the male lead from the first film, Keanu Reeves, declined a role in the follow-up. Sandra Bullock returns as Annie Porter, an accident-prone ditz who is thrilled when her boyfriend Alex (Jason Patric) presents her with two tickets for a cruise ship vacation to the Bahamas. The trip is a peace offering presented because Annie has just learned that Alex is a police officer who's been lying to her about his choice of profession. Little does the happy couple know that the disgruntled John Geiger (Willem Dafoe), designer of the ship's computer system, has plotted a violent takeover of the vessel and a diamond hijacking that puts everyone on board in mortal danger. Being the dashing police officer he is, Alex leaps into action and tries to stop Geiger, but not before the ship crashes at top velocity into a Caribbean port town. Sandra Bullock agreed to star in this flop of a sequel in order to get financial backing for a pet project, Hope Floats (1998), a low-budget drama that turned a healthy profit. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 2 hr. 5 min.
Directed By: Jan de Bont
Written By: Jeff Nathanson, Kevin Peterka, Gregg Chabot
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Jun 13, 1997 Wide
On DVD: Mar 9, 1999

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Do yourself a favor and see a movie instead.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
[It] sinks faster than a rock.
Emanuel Levy, Variety
Speed 2 suffers from a slender script, a tedious first reel and a routine villain who lacks the entertaining menace that Speed's diabolical madman projected.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
Speed 2 doesn't have much in mind besides convincing an audience that a runaway ocean liner is a dynamic menace. Fine, but it doesn't beat a runaway bus.
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
Even the film's big-ticket closing stunts are more impressive for their size than for any excitement they generate.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Speed 2 can be numbered among the worst second chapters ever made.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
By the time you get to rescue Annie from the madman one last time, it's time to check out.
, Film4
A witless, charmless actioner that even Bullock has distanced herself from -- and by the time it reaches the just plain silly finale, it isn't hard to see why.
Bill Clark, rec.arts.movies.reviews
This is the kind of movie that Chuck Norris would have made 15 years ago, except there would be two dozen bad guys and plenty more excitement.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Cruise control indeed, as in slow and phoned-in, coasting by on what is passed off as thrills.
, Time Out
Dafoe's take on Dennis Hopper's Hopper impersonation is plain pointless; Bullock too is wasted in a ditzy half-role; and Patric is unsmiling and resolutely uncharismatic.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
De Bont simply reprises the first film.
Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
If Speed 2 and let's say, Kissed, a dark comedy about a woman necrophile, were the very last two movies at the video store, I would pick Kissed.
Dragan Antulov, rec.arts.movies.reviews
This film is less of a sequel and more of a carbon copy.
Carlo Cavagna, AboutFilm.com
When some people talk about how much they loathed 1997's Big Boat Movie, I think they must mean this one.
Jeanne Aufmuth, Palo Alto Weekly
Sixty minutes of poorly photographed rescue attempts sum up the substance of the movie.
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Literally has to be the worst 'event' film ever made.
Oz, Hollywood Bitchslap
Incredible ineptitude, a terminally shaky camera and plotholes you could drive the universe through.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
Sandra Bullock is as winning as usual and Willem Dafoe has great fun chewing up the scenery as the villain. Unfortunately, there's not much chemistry between Bullock and Patric, so the love story doesn't work.
Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer
It's painful to see Mr. Dafoe, an excellent actor, reduced to a snarling mad dog who treats his fatal disease -- copper poisoning? -- with leeches and spouts lines like ''Now you're gonna get it!''

Read all 21 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Lenny M

You can't franchise Speed in cruise control, no sperm in these germs.
Brad W

Mother of god who makes this shit, I would expect this crap from a Adam Sandler film, but Sandra Bullock?
Jeff "

Sequel to the awesome Speed, Speed 2 is a terrible film with bad acting, and rehashed ideas. Willem Dafoe is trying his best to prevent this film into sinking, but not even his awesome performance can save this mediocre sequel from crashing. This film seems sloppily made, with pretty… More
Sequel to the awesome Speed, Speed 2 is a terrible film with bad acting, and rehashed ideas. Willem Dafoe is trying his best to prevent this film into sinking, but not even his awesome performance can save this mediocre sequel from crashing. This film seems sloppily made, with pretty cheesy moments and bad acting, script writing. It's a real shame because Willem Dafoe is very good as the villain, but by the films end, not even his great performance can save this film. Thats the only saving grace from this film, Dafoe as the villain. Speed 2 is a train wreck of a film that should've never been made because it really cheapens the first one, which was terrific. Jan De Bont who helmed the first film is trying to keep this afloat, but it fails on so many levels. Speed 2:Cruise Control is one of the sequels ever made. The had an interesting concept for a story, but the execution of the story feels tired, and feels like it doesn't reach potential. Thats the sad thing about this film, it had potential, but the screenwriters didn't focus on the characters, some are very annoying (the deaf girl) and some great (Dafoe's character) Unfortunately this around, the film is way too predictable. Instead of a bus, its an ocean liner. The guy who wrote the script could have added something a bit more consistent to the plot, but he basically reuses old,m tired ideas. Yet at times entertaining, it feels also very stupid.
Albert K

the definition of a crappy sequel
Tim S

No Keanu? No way.
Wahida K

Just great as the prequel with Keanu
Anthony L

Aka: Speed poo - Flush control
Jason O

Speed 2 is pretty much just another solid action movie with nothing spectacular. All the actors and actresses do a good job in the acting and the plot is good, but when you compare it to the first Speed, which was one of the best action movies of the decade, Speed 2 is NOTHING. The… More
Speed 2 is pretty much just another solid action movie with nothing spectacular. All the actors and actresses do a good job in the acting and the plot is good, but when you compare it to the first Speed, which was one of the best action movies of the decade, Speed 2 is NOTHING. The only thing I saw in Speed 2 that even comes close to comparing with the original Speed is the special effects. The ending sequence and many of the other effects are pretty good. But the suspense and non-stop action are just not there like they were in the first Speed. To make it short, if you want a good, normal everyday action movie, Speed 2: Cruise Control would be a good movie to get. But if you want an even better movie, one of the best action movies of the decade, check out the original Speed first. NOTE: That was my review from the year 2000. I never have and still don't think Speed 2 is as bad as everyone makes out, and this coming from someone who considers the original to be one of his favorite movies of all time!
Dean M

A big, loud, disappointing sequel that wastes the talent of everyone involved in a cruise ship. Director Jan De Bont still pours energy into the effects, but the story and performances lack that polish and care.
Nicki M

This one I kind of got stuck watching at my mother's house, otherwise no way I would have bothered with it. Okay, well it certainly wasn't a great movie, but I have to say I have seen more boring action movies - this one held my attention, (for the most part), just because… More
This one I kind of got stuck watching at my mother's house, otherwise no way I would have bothered with it. Okay, well it certainly wasn't a great movie, but I have to say I have seen more boring action movies - this one held my attention, (for the most part), just because it was so stupid and far fetched. Anchor's ripping out of boats like they were paper and let's not even go into the onland out of control boat!! By the end it was definitely an unintentional comedy. As for Sandra Bullock's hair all through this, bloody hell, don't they pay people to do that?!
Derek A

If there was ever a movie that didn't need a sequel, it would be Speed. It was hugely successful... so you know what Hollywood does with a successful idea right?? MILK that cash cow for every dime they can get. Bad Moves: -Ultimately, writing this script in the first place.… More
If there was ever a movie that didn't need a sequel, it would be Speed. It was hugely successful... so you know what Hollywood does with a successful idea right?? MILK that cash cow for every dime they can get. Bad Moves: -Ultimately, writing this script in the first place. -Replacing Keanu Reeves with that loser -Returning only 1 star -Replacing something as cool and interesting as blowing up a Public Transportation System Bus with blowing up a ...CRUISE SHIP?? This movie is called SPEED right? How fast can a boat go? Who cares if a bunch of rich people blow up? I had empathy for the hostages in the first film, but not in the second. The thrill rides in the 1st were tense, but the sequel was a laughable joke. Avoid this like the plaque... it is possibly one of the worst movies ever made. Period.
Tsubaki S

"Is like Speed...but with a boat instead of a bus."
Justin Y

Speed. Bus on highway. Speed 2: Cruise Control. Boat in ocean. Of all the ideas to make for another speed movie, they choose to use a cruise ship in the ocean. Talk about no suspense. We need to stay above 10 knots or we'll explode. Oh… More
Speed. Bus on highway. Speed 2: Cruise Control. Boat in ocean. Of all the ideas to make for another speed movie, they choose to use a cruise ship in the ocean. Talk about no suspense. We need to stay above 10 knots or we'll explode. Oh no, another boat. Lets zig and lets zag. We have a problem. The ocean isn't finished. Quick everybody lean to the left and put your head down. I give Keanu Reeves props for not being in this piece of crap. He recognizes a stupid sequel when he sees it. To be honest, I may have given this movie a half star more rating if it was titled something else. Here are a couple of ideas: "Not Speed", "Speed, are you kidding me?", or "Ridiculous Idea."If you notice on the cover it says "Two Thumbs Up!" This is only true if you're standing on your head. Otherwise it would be two thumbs down. Then again, if you are standing on your head you might be crazy enough to actually watch this. The movie may actually seem better from this point of view as well.The first Speed was spectacular and it would be hard for a sequel to top it. So why did they make this? To waste everybody's time. Do yourself a favor and watch something else. I don't even know why I watched this, let alone why I'm even reviewing it. Oh yeah, to help you guys steer clear of the buoy. Watch out! Too late. Ding. What a way to destroy a series.
Candy R

Not as good as first. This time it's a speeding boat!
Dean !

Slated by crictics and it does get very cheesey towards the end.......however I quite enjoyed the first half. It has a decent bike chase, Dafoe as a great villian (as always!) and Sandra Bullock!
Mike S

Laughable!
Aaron N

John Geiger: ANNIE! Come back, your my hostage! It's funny, anytime this movie is on TV, I feel like I don't need to change the channel. It's as if I can just leave this movie on and go about other business in my room with this in the background. This isn't a… More
John Geiger: ANNIE! Come back, your my hostage! It's funny, anytime this movie is on TV, I feel like I don't need to change the channel. It's as if I can just leave this movie on and go about other business in my room with this in the background. This isn't a good movie, but it's not terrible either. It was clearly made for money, but it doesn't bother me. Even the cast admits that the check they got for this movie went to help them fund personaly projects of there own. It's bad, but it's good at looking bad. A bus that can't stop. Easy, but it was made to work extremely well. This is a big boat that is kind of going fast, but then it stops for a while, then it goes again, and all kinds of nonsense, and the Willem Dafoe has the evil madman smile, while Sandra Bullock cracks jokes and references the first movie and her old boyfriend Jack who has been replaced by new guy, Jason Patric, who has taken a wild step to be a top billing action star, but only for the money. It's a run-on sentence, but this is a run-on movie, as long as they have an idea and money, and marketing, they let this role. But still, it's good enough for me to not pay attention to but still have it on. Oh, and Keanu decided to tour with his band instead of make this movie.
Michael S

A far cry from the original.
danny d

jason patric barely spoke, you almost forget he's there
Jason S

Dumb.