Director James Ryan no doubt thought that his debut feature film would provide him with the glorious stepping-stone to Hollywood infamy that all young helmers fanaticize about whilst drooling over Tarantino biographies. Instead, with Bachelor Party 2: The Last Temptation, he delivers a straight to DVD lad flick, which although fun and good-natured, will ensure he languishes in the overcrowded melee of aspiring directors for some time to come.

The story follows soon to be married Ron (Josh Cooke) and his three best friends as they’re encouraged to indulge in alcoholic and sexual excess on a bachelor party organized by Ron’s conniving future brother in law Todd (Warren Christie). Ron, blinded by puppy dog love for his fiancé Melinda, fails of course to notice Todd’s stereotypically machiavellian desire to dispose of him before he can marry and gain entry to the family business.

Although titled as a direct sequel to its 1984 predecessor starring Tom Hanks, this incarnation can by no means be considered a follow on but more of a contemporary, B-movie re-imagining.

Certainly the drab and cheap appearance of the film exposes Ryan’s distinct lack of directorial experience, while the cliché riddled script also offers very little that we haven’t come to expect from films of this ilk on a frequent basis.

Nonetheless, there are some belly laughs to be had from various slapstick set pieces and the bitter, thrice remarried best man Derek (Harland Williams) is good value with his frequently flowery and flamboyant use of nappy filth language.

Meanwhile, Josh Cooke provides a likeable turn as protagonist Ron, exuding the type of disgusting natural charm, charisma and effortless comedic timing that is usually only associated with the likes of Will Smith and Ryan Reynolds. One to watch perhaps…

There may be a distinct lack of ground breaking material on show and the minimalist plot can safely be accused of acting merely as a navigational vehicle between the numerous scenes of nakedness and sexual endeavour however, should this be James Ryan’s first and last film, at least he can say that he had more naked women in it than Showgirls.
 

Richard Kattan