Critters 2: The Main Course

**Critters 2: The Main Course** is a 1988 American science fiction/comedy/horror film directed by Mick Garris which was released on April 29, 1988 by New Line Cinema.

It is the second installment in the "Critters" film franchise.

## Plot

A batch of planted Critter eggs begin to hatch and wreck havoc on the small farm town of Grover's Bend.

## Cast

* Scott Grimes as Brad Brown
* Terrence Mann as Ug
* Liane Alexandra Curtis as Megan Morgan
* Don Keith Opper as Charlie McFadden
* Barry Corbin as Sheriff Harv
* Tom Hodges as Wesley
* Sam Anderson as Mr. Morgan
* Lindsay Parker as Cindy
* Herta Ware as Nana
* Lin Shaye as Sal
* Roxanne Kernohan as Lee
* Douglas Rowe as Quigley

## Production

Mick Garris got the chance to direct "Critters 2: The Main Course" after having worked for Steven Spielberg on the television series, "Amazing Stories" as a screenwriter.

Garris initially turned down the offer to direct the film, but later accepted, citing that he was a big fan of the first "Critters" film and wanted to make the sequel a more scary film than the first.

The Chiodo Brothers (who served as special effects artists on the first film) returned to create the titular creatures, creating over 50 puppets for the film.

Filming for "Critters 2: The Main Course" began on September 8, 1987 and ended on November 4, 1987 on location in Santa Clarita, California.

Mick Garris wanted to get Frank Welker to do the voices of the Crites, but he couldn't afford him, so he ended up doing most of the voices himself and hiring a loop group to provide additional vocals for them.

## Box Office

"Critters 2: The Main Course" grossed $1,898,751 during its opening weekend. Overall, it grossed $3,813,293.

## Critical Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, "Critters 2: The Main Course" has an approval rating of 27% based on 11 reviews with an average rating of 4.25/10.

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film a rating of 1 out of 4 stars, saying that it *"lacks all of the style and sense of fun of the original Critters and has no reason for existence."*

Dave Kehr from the Chicago Tribune called it *"good, grungy fun"* while Time Out said that Mick Garris *"plays it for laughs, and despite dull moments (and the obvious plagiarisation of Gremlins), does a pretty good job."*

Variety wrote that "Critters 2: The Main Course" perfectly *"weaves together the gruesome behaviour of these bloodthirsty creatures and the comic asides that keep things gliding along."*

Michael Wilmington of The Los Angeles Times said: *"Though it's somewhat better than its predecessor, largely through sheer directorial and photographic panache, it's still pretty disreputable and mindless."*

The Miami Herald wrote: *"The original's mildly offbeat sense of humor is at work in 2, and the cheesy special effects return as well (the Krites look like nothing so much as deranged Muppets). Still, this is the kind of goofy B-movie that will look good on the small screen -- so watch for its release on tape."*

Caryn James of The New York Times said: *"Critters 2 piles up every stock movie idea you can remember about small-town heroism, macho sheriffs and alien invaders. But whenever it shows a glimmer of wit about those cliches, it leaps back to its safe, dull, derivative style."*

TV Guide Magazine wrote: *"As sequels go, Critters 2: The Main Course is particularly bereft of imagination. Save for the opening 20 or 30 minutes, the film is pretty much a clone of the original."*

The Washington Post said the film is *"flat, lacking the kinetic energy, tight pacing and generally better acting of its predecessor."*