We didn’t ask for it, and yet we were still delivered another direct-to-video, fart-joke laced sequel. While attempting to cash in on the success of its predecessor, this one comes out half baked…or under-cooked, or whatever restaurant pun you wish to digest…just know that it’s a bad film!
Film![]()
Shenaniganz, the restaurant featured in the first film, is coming under pressure after a hot new Hooters-style restaurant called “Ta-Tas Wing Shack” moves in next door. The actual conflict of this plot is the manager of Shenaniganz is vying for a district manager position but needs to hit a 9,000 goal in a day to beat out other store managers. He then lies to his crew saying that the restaurant will close if they don’t reach said goal in order to motivate them. Meanwhile, he is also trying to learn how to pick up girls, the crew have their own problems, yadda yadda yadda, nobody really cares. Whatever plot has been scraped together is all just a fickle backdrop so that the characters can pull frat-boy style pranks on each other, and inappropriate jokes can be told. Really, there is no connection to any of the characters, nothing is truly at stake, therefore all the weight sits on how successful a gag fest it is.
To properly measure said success, I started to tally how many truly funny moments it had…by the end of the film I had notice 3 lines printed next to the counter I had drawn. This tells me there were three moments (keeping in mind that a moment’s duration is often no more than a few seconds) wherein I actually had a chuckle.
What does it say about a film when it is C-list talents that are being wasted? Adam Carolla looks asleep during his phoned-in cameo (clearly shot on a digital camera, well-away from the actual movie set). John Michael Higgins has proven in many a Christopher Guest film that he is a brilliant improviser, but he has no room to move in his role as the manager. There are other cameos but it is not worth mentioning anyone who happens to physically appear on screen, but has no emotional presence nor truly adds anything significant to their scenes, never mind the film.
There are numerous continuity errors and goofs, the director cannot frame a scene properly (the scenes in the Manager’s tiny office woudl make a superb film school tutorial on how NOT to shoot a film), and there is simply no energy to carry this film, even just for 90 minutes.
Video ![]()
Widescreen 1.78:1. It may be 1080p HD but the picture is not very sharp at all. There is a certain fuzziness apparent in close ups that is normally reserved for a lackluster DVD transfer. A disappointing treatment, but not all too surprising considering how much concern went into every other aspect of this film.
Audio ![]()
The lone track is 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio in English. There is a decent sound treatment as far as mixing background sounds and score but there are a few moments where the dialogue does not mix well, making it very apparent what was recorded on the set versus what was dubbed in during post-production. An amateur error.
Subtitles available in English and Spanish.
Special Features ![]()
Trailers: Self-explanatory.
“Sloppy Seconds”: This is a making-of featurette that runs for nearly 50 minutes. This is a surprisingly thorough look at the different levels of production. As the writer-director team of Jeff Balis and Rob McKittrick speak, they can almost be forgiven because of how they seem to be somewhat aware that this is a cheaply made, destined to avoid the theatre, piece of comedic bunk that is made for the sake of being made…almost.
Deleted Scenes: Alternate takes on scenes and other useless clips whose comedic weakness only justify their placement on the cutting room floor. Well, save for one of Justin Long’s extended takes, but frankly he could stir up laughs at a funeral.
Outtakes: 3 separate reels of improv takes and the cast giggling to themselves.
Commentary by Balis and McKittrik: Once again, some sympathy can be given to these lads after they come closer to fully confessing how cheap and bad this film is. A full on apology would have been nice, but these two chatting away will have to suffice.
Final Thoughts![]()
Even gross out comedy fans should be bored by this. At least, I pray that they do because this is the sort of thing that should receive 0 encouragement. We do not need this to franchise like the American Pie series did. If being dirty didn’t shut Shenaniganz down, perhaps ignoring it will.
