A Hilarious Look Back at “Super Troopers” and “Super Troopers 2”
- Matt Palmer
- Aug 5
- 3 min read
In a couple weeks, I will be checking out the theatrical return of the comedy team Broken Lizard in the upcoming movie “Super Troopers 3.” Since it’s been awhile since I’ve seen the still hilarious 2002 movie and never seen the 2018 sequel, I wanted to check them out before the next movie!
In the 2002 movie, always looking for action, five over-enthusiastic but under-stimulated Vermont State Troopers raise hell on the highway, keeping motorists anxiously looking in their rear-view mirrors. Between an ongoing feud with the local cops, and the state government wanting to shut them down, the state troopers find themselves precariously and hilariously heading toward calamity as they try to avoid extinction.
“Super Troopers” is one of those movies that I always check out whenever it’s available on streaming. While mainstream critics were initially lukewarm on this movie, general moviegoers turned it into an enduring cult classic. The comedy struck a chord with audiences through a distinct mix of absurdist humor, relentless pranks, and high-energy ensemble chemistry.
This hysterical comedy features numerous memorable comedic set pieces that will really have you laughing. The opening sequence where the troopers play mind games with a car full of college students is probably one of the most hilarious parts of the
movie. There’s plenty of other hilarious gags, such as the “Meow” game, the “Liter o’Cola,” the “Bulletproof cup” scene and so many other scenes. The comedy also delivers many one-liners that fans will always remember, such as “Littering and … littering and …”, “Enhance” (while they’re using a computer) and "Right meow” (which I even say from time to time).
I really enjoyed that the movie lacked any star-power and each member of the comedy trope got equal, memorable moments to shine. This movie captures the natural shorthand of tight-knit friends. Watching the comedy feels like watching a scripted movie and more like hanging out with friends who are just messing around. It’s also great to see Brian Cox shed off his serious dramatic persona to fully commit to playing their captain.
In “Super Troopers 2,” fired for their previous shenanigans, the former Vermont Highway Patrol officers get a shot of redemption. The wacky quintet must provide law enforcement for a French Canadian town that’s transitioning to US sovereignty.
Their unconventional methods soon get put to the test when they encounter a smarmy mayor (from a scene-stealing Rob Lowe), mischievous Mounties, a smuggling ring and a really big bear.
Arriving seventeen years after the original, 2018’s “Super Troopers 2” had a high bar to clear for die-hard fans. Crowdfunded via Indiegogo, this movie was made specifically for the core fanbase - and while critics were divided, viewers who loved the original found plenty to celebrate in their return. And, since I finally had the chance to see the sequel, it definitely is a worthy sequel to the comedic cult classic.
The 2018 sequel delivers exactly what fans wanted from a sequel: a high energy return to the original characters, heavy doses of nostalgia and shameless, laugh out loud humor. The cast’s chemistry in this sequel hasn’t changed one bit and, just like the first movie, each member of Broken Lizard (and Brian Cox once again) have their time to shine!
Now, while this sequel does include the expected callbacks to the cult classic original, it rarely over-relies on the same jokes and instead builds new gags around some of the old concepts. “Super Troopers 2” features quite a few moments that will really have you bursting out with laughter, such as the bear in the station, the return of the “Liter of Cola,” numerous moments of the state troopers vs. Mounties and Thorny accidentally take estrogen (a few times).
Audience response to the first two movies is allegedly defined by strong cult classic devotion, with fans warmly embracing the Broken Lizard comedy group’s raunchy, silly style despite mixed to negative critic reviews. Viewers treat both movies as comfort-watch comedies, heavily favoring the original while finding the crowdfunded sequel to be a fun, nostalgic reunion.
“Super Troopers” can currently be streamed on Hulu while “Super Troopers 2” can be streamed on HBO Max.
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