While not as good as the first RoboCop, RoboCop 2 is a movie that I still really enjoy. As a kid, I actually preferred this more than the first RoboCop, but that could have been because I was aware of this when it came out and the hype was too much for my 10 year old brain. As an adult, I do think that this is not as strong a “story” as the original, but it is still a kickass action movie, hey, at least it is way better than RoboCop 3!
How to Download RoboCop 2
RoboCop 2 was released on June 22, 1990. You can download or stream the film from a digital platform. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice.
The Movie Review: RoboCop 2
Just like with the first RoboCop, the video game adaptation of RoboCop 2 was a huge deal for me as a kid and made me like the movie and RoboCop in general even more. Unlike the movies, I do prefer the RoboCop 2 video game a little more than the first. I got this on the NES for Christmas 1991 and it was a major highlight of that Christmas.
Action and Violence: A Toned-Down Sequel
While the action is still great, I feel that things were toned down a tad for this one. Hey, it is still brutal and violent in places, but the wow factor is not here that the first movie had. This is just my theory but with the success of the RoboCop toys, video games, and animated series, perhaps they wanted to tone this one down a tad to appeal to kids more so that more parents would let them watch it.
The Plot: Corporate Greed and Urban Decay
The plot this time around sees that big corporation once again messing with Detroit. They are trying to bankrupt the city so that they can just swoop in and take it all over and do what they want with it. This is something that is what more than a few big-time companies and developers have tried to do, granted not to this scale, but I do like how this is at least a little bit based on something that could and has happened to cities and towns before.
Multiple Plot Threads: A Missed Opportunity
There are a few different things going on in RoboCop 2 and I kind of wish that they just focused on one of them. You have this fancy drug called NUKE that is taking over the city and the main guy peddling it, Caine is one very bad dude. You also have that corporation trying to make a whole fleet of RoboCop type cops so that they can replace the police force with them!
Experimenting with New RoboCops: The Highlight
The stuff with trying to make new RoboCop style police officers is really cool and the part of the movie I liked the best. The way this goes so wrong with them killing themselves is very interesting and I think this could have been developed way more. The stuff where they decided to use criminals instead of cops was pretty shocking.
RoboCop’s Human Side: A Forced Subplot
We also get more stuff with RoboCop and his Alex Murphy side. I found it kind of weird how he was sort of stalking his family. I think that the first movie did a much better job of showcasing RoboCop’s Alex Murphy/human side than this one does as it feels way more forced this time around.
Final Thoughts on RoboCop 2
I still think that RoboCop 2 is a fun movie, it is not as good as the first, but I always feel that people are more negative towards this than it deserves. It makes for a fun back-to-back watch with the first movie. It is a bit more of a straight up action movie, but that is not something I am going to hold against it. I perhaps do have nostalgia goggles for this as I remember being so excited for this to come out on VHS so I could rent it from the store. It is such a shame that RoboCop 3 was such a letdown after this.
