Look Who's Talking Too

Last updated
Look Who's Talking Too
Lookwhotalkin2.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Amy Heckerling
Written byAmy Heckerling
Neal Israel
Produced by Jonathan D. Krane
Starring
Cinematography Thomas Del Ruth
Edited byDebra Chiate
Music by David Kitay
Production
company
Big Mouth Production
Distributed by Tri-Star Pictures
Release date
  • December 14, 1990 (1990-12-14)
Running time
82 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$120.9 million

Look Who's Talking Too is a 1990 American romantic comedy film, a sequel to Look Who's Talking , and the second installment in the titular franchise. The film was directed by Amy Heckerling from a script she co-authored with Neal Israel. The film stars the original cast members John Travolta and Kirstie Alley as James and Mollie Ubriacco, the parents of Mikey (voiced by Bruce Willis), a toddler coping with the newest addition to the family, baby Julie (voiced by Roseanne Barr).

Contents

In addition to this, he is having trouble using a potty, and the unorthodox advice he gets from his playmate, Eddie (voiced by Damon Wayans), doesn't make his problem any better. [1]

Plot

Several months after getting married, Mollie and James welcome their child, Mikey's half-sister Julie into the family. While at first, Mikey is excited to be a big brother, he begins to resent his sister shortly after she is born when the reality does not match what he dreamed being a big brother would be like. He finds Julie annoying and resents sharing both toys and his parents attention; being constantly mean to her as a result. In turn, Julie is not impressed by Mikey, who struggles with potty training, having several accidents despite encouragement from his friends and family. James is provided a job as a full time pilot thanks to Mollie's parents and the longer work hours strain the couple's relationship. The couple also have parenting disputes with James believing Mollie to be overprotective and too high strung. Mollie's lazy younger brother Stuart comes to live with them temporarily, and James is upset that Mollie does not even consult him about it. James is further frustrated when Stuart pulls an (unloaded) gun on him thinking he's an intruder. He wants Stuart out immediately and Mollie insists on talking to him first seeing nothing wrong with him having a gun or leaving messes everywhere. James finally reaches his breaking point and storms out of the apartment. Mikey thinks Julie is responsible for the situation and takes his vengeance out on Julie's stuffed bird Herbie. Meanwhile, after her apartment is robbed, Mollie's friend Rona comes to stay with them, and she begins to date Stuart.

During one of James' visits, he takes Mikey and Julie to the movies. Mikey finally realizes he was too hard on his sister and she wasn't to blame for their dad leaving. Later, when Julie decides she doesn't need Mikey and wants to strike out on her own, she is inspired to walk unsupported. Mollie sees this and showers Julie with affection for her accomplishment, but the happiness is short lived, as James is not there to share the moment. James returns home to talk to Mollie and Mikey accomplishes going to the bathroom on his own, which is a celebration both of them share with him. James is due to go flying despite a massive storm building in the area, Mollie gets worried and leaves Mikey and Julie in Stuart's care. While she is gone, a robber sneaks into the apartment and Stuart scares him out with his gun. Forgetting that Mikey and Julie are in the apartment, Stuart gives chase leaving them home alone. He is also left the stove on and a towel on the stove causing a fire to spread through the apartment. Thinking quickly Mikey pushes Julie in her bouncer out of harm's way. He promises to take care of her when she tells him she is afraid of the "hot stuff" which he tells her not to touch.

Meanwhile, James and Mollie make up in the plane when the flight is canceled. James asks Mollie if she's happy about being right; she tells him that she loves him and no longer cares about who's right. They return home to see the fire through the kitchen window. Momentarily panicked they are relieved as Mikey exits the elevator with Julie in tow. James runs to the apartment and puts out the fire before any major damage is caused. Mollie admits that leaving the kids with Stuart was a bad idea which James is pleased to hear.

Later, at a family barbecue Julie and Mikey have a conversation on how strange adults they are. Julie is grateful to Mikey for saving them from the fire and he sees how much they are needed in each others lives. He tells Julie that it is them against the grown ups and that he loves her. She agrees saying "big ones don't make any sense" and the two walk off together hand in hand.

Cast

Voices

Production

An extended and re-arranged version of the famous Tri-Star Pictures theme music, originally composed by Dave Grusin and composed and arranged by David Kitay, was played during the scene when Julie practices walking. A variation with the standard version of the fanfare, which was credited at the end, exists at the beginning of the logo when Bruce Willis (voice of Mikey) was doing a Mister Ed imitation.

Casting

The bum teaser at the end of the first film portrayed an uncredited Joan Rivers, providing the voice of Julie. Due to scheduling conflicts, she declined the role.

An early trailer featured Richard Pryor as the voice of Eddie.

Also appearing are Olympia Dukakis, Elias Koteas, and Gilbert Gottfried. Further vocal talents include Damon Wayans in a supporting role as the voice of Eddie. Mel Brooks makes a cameo appearance as the voice of Mr. Toilet Man. Director Amy Heckerling's father, Lou, has a small speaking part as Mollie's father. The film was followed by another sequel, Look Who's Talking Now! , in 1993.

Alternative versions

When the film aired on Freeform (formerly known as ABC Family), many of its deleted scenes such as Mollie threatening Mikey with corporal punishment if he walks off with Julie's carriage again were shown (Kirstie Alley reportedly hated it as she was an advocate against corporal punishment). One notable addition is a running gag where Mollie chats with her friends and folks and it ignites a daydream of James cheating on her. There is even one sequence where she imagines him as John Lennon and herself as Yoko Ono parodying their activism. Only one remnant of this gag remains in the theatrical and home media cut.

In one version, James and Stuart have a conversation after he arrives in the apartment.

Reception

Unlike its predecessor, it received mostly negative reviews. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 13% of 16 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 3.5/10. [2] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale. [3] The film was released in the United Kingdom on March 22, 1991, and reached number 2 in the country's box office that weekend. [4]

Catherine Dunphy of The Toronto Star called it "a movie filled with the kind of thigh-slapping potty jokes only those still not trained could love", while noting that the character of Mikey was "old enough by any pediatric standards to speak for himself by now". [5] Bill Brownstein of the Montreal Gazette called it an "embarrassingly dreadful". [6] Greg Potter of the Vancouver Sun wrote that "if not for the sweet, cherubic countenances of the wee tikes innocently gagaing amid the unscrupulous exploitation and bald-faced money-grubbing of Look Who's Talking Too, this 81-minute testimony to the despicably twisted motives of Hollywood sequel mongers would be even more insufferable". [7]

David Armstrong of the San Francisco Examiner called the film "utterly undistinguished product—witless, vulgar, filled with potty jokes and gags about genitalia, stuffed with can't-miss-'em-product plugs, weighted down with a gratuitous chase-and-fight scene, loaded with old pop songs to underscore what the characters—and thus the audience—are supposed to be feeling". [8] Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune called it a "toilet-humored sequel that loses the romance and Innocence that made the original film such a pleasant surprise. John Travolta and Kirstie Alley return with a new baby girl with the voice of Roseanne Barr, who has been given absolutely nothing funny to say. The few infrequent bits of humor come from the laidback voice of Bruce Willis as toddler Mikey. Travolta dances like Elvis in one scene, but director Amy Heckerling manages to louse that up by shooting him too often from the waist up". [9] Steve Murray, in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution , wrote that "the good news is, Look Who's Talking Too is less than 90 minutes long. The bad news? It feels so much longer. [...] Designed to make money, Look Who's Talking Too will probably succeed on that level, though it fails on all others". [10] Martin F. Kohn of the Detroit Free Press wrote that "the script, by director Amy Heckerling and Neal Israel, provides a dime's worth of characterization and a nickel's worth of plot. The story line is so flimsy that the film deteriorates into a series of music videos [that] are downright delightful compared to some of the minor characters, particularly the kids' mooching, trigger-happy Uncle Stuart and the proprietor of the baby gym, played by one Gilbert Gottfried (picture Richard Simmons with Martha Raye's mouth) whose performance makes Pee-wee Herman look like Sir Laurence Olivier. Incidentally, the voice of the talking toilet is Mel Brooks. Now there's an idea for a sitcom". [11] David Lyman of The Cincinnati Post gave a negative review and called it "humorless", "dismally dull" and "totally devoid of cleverness". [12] Ryan Murphy of The Miami Herald gave the film only one star, and stated that "director Amy Heckerling has whipped up a banal entirely soulless cinematic concoction whose main ingredients are vulgar bathroom humor (there are at least two dozen references to poo-poo and pee-pee) and bothersome Mr. Ed baby tricks m which the mouths of poor toddlers and infants are manipulated to produce overdone talking effects". [13]

It grossed $47,789,074 at the box office in the United States and Canada, [14] and $73.1 million internationally, [15] for a worldwide total of $120.9 million.

It was also nominated for two Razzie Awards, including Worst Supporting Actor for Gilbert Gottfried and Worst Supporting Actress for Roseanne Barr, and a Stinkers Bad Movie Award for Worst Picture.

Sequel

The film was followed by a sequel titled, Look Who's Talking Now! in 1993. Once again co-starring John Travolta and Kirstie Alley, alongside David Gallagher and Tabitha Lupien as Mikey and Julie respectively, the film centers around the introduction of two pet dogs to the family. The two animals, an Irish-wire fox terrier mutt and a white coat poodle who compete for the family's affection, were voiced by Danny DeVito and Diane Keaton, respectively.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Travolta</span> American actor (born 1954)

John Joseph Travolta is an American actor, singer, and producer. He began acting in television before transitioning into a leading man in films. His accolades include a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards.

<i>Captain Underpants</i> Childrens novel series by Dav Pilkey

Captain Underpants is an illustrated children's novel series by American author and illustrator Dav Pilkey. The series revolves around two fourth graders, George Beard and Harold Hutchins, living in Piqua, Ohio, and Captain Underpants, an aptly named superhero from one of the boys' homemade comic books, who accidentally becomes real when George and Harold hypnotize their cruel, bossy, and ill-tempered principal, Mr. Krupp. From the third book onwards, Mr. Krupp also possesses superhuman strength, durability and flight as a result of drinking Alien "Extra-Strength Super Power Juice".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirstie Alley</span> American actress (1951–2022)

Kirstie Louise Alley was an American actress. Her breakthrough role was as Rebecca Howe in the NBC sitcom Cheers (1987–1993), for which she received an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe in 1991. From 1997 to 2000, Alley starred as the lead in the sitcom Veronica's Closet, earning additional Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. On film, she played Mollie Jensen in Look Who's Talking (1989) and its two sequels, Look Who's Talking Too (1990) and Look Who's Talking Now (1993).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Gallagher</span> American actor and model (born 1985)

David Lee Gallagher is an American actor and former model. He began his career as a child actor and model at the age of two, and is known for his roles as Mikey Ubriacco in Look Who's Talking Now, Simon Camden in 7th Heaven, Kevin Harper in Angels in the Endzone, Richie Rich in Richie Rich's Christmas Wish, and Riku in the Kingdom Hearts series. Throughout his career, he has been a five-time Young Artist Award nominee and Teen Choice Award winner.

<i>Look Whos Talking</i> 1989 film by Amy Heckerling

Look Who's Talking is a 1989 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Amy Heckerling, and starring John Travolta and Kirstie Alley. The film concerns the relationship between single mother Mollie (Alley) and her infant son Mikey's babysitter, James (Travolta). Bruce Willis provides the voice of Mikey's precocious thoughts, heard only by the audience. The film also features Olympia Dukakis, George Segal and Abe Vigoda in supporting roles. Produced by M.C.E.G. Productions, Inc. and released on October 13, 1989 by Tri-Star Pictures, the film received mixed reviews from critics. Nevertheless, it was an enormous box office success, grossing $297 million worldwide on its budget of $7.5 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amy Heckerling</span> American filmmaker (born 1954)

Amy Heckerling is an American writer, producer, and director. Heckerling started out her career after graduating from New York University and entering the American Film Institute, making small student films. Heckerling is a recipient of AFI's Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal celebrating her creative talents and artistic achievements. She struggled to break out into big films and was snubbed by Hollywood, up until the release of her breakout film Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982).

<i>Staying Alive</i> (1983 film) 1983 film by Sylvester Stallone

Staying Alive is a 1983 American dance drama film and the sequel to Saturday Night Fever (1977). The film was directed by Sylvester Stallone, who co-produced and co-wrote the film with original Fever producer Robert Stigwood, and writer Norman Wexler. Staying Alive stars John Travolta, reprising his Saturday Night Fever role as Tony Manero, with Cynthia Rhodes, Finola Hughes, Joyce Hyser, Julie Bovasso, Viktor Manoel and Kevyn Morrow.

Ross Aaron Malinger is an American former actor and automobile salesperson. He is best known for his roles as Jonah Baldwin in the 1993 movie Sleepless in Seattle, starring Tom Hanks, and as Bobby Jameson in the 1997 Disney comedy film Toothless, starring Kirstie Alley. He and Alley co-starred in the 1995 television film Peter and the Wolf, where Malinger played Peter. He played Adam Lippman, the Bar Mitzvah boy who liked Elaine's "Shiksa appeal", in the Seinfeld episode "The Serenity Now". He was also the original voice of T.J. Detweiler on the Disney animated TV series Recess.

Rihoko Yoshida is a Japanese businesswoman and a former voice actress. Among her most noteworthy roles are Megu-chan in Majokko Megu-chan, Monsley in Future Boy Conan, Maria Grace Fleed in UFO Robo Grendizer, Michiru in Getter Robo, Klara in Heidi, Girl of the Alps, Rosalie Lamorliere in The Rose of Versailles, Miwa Uzuki in Steel Jeeg, Kurama in Urusei Yatsura, and Machiko in Maicchingu Machiko-sensei. She retired from voice acting in 1998.

<i>The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby</i> 2002 childrens graphic novel by Dav Pilkey

The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby is a 2002 children's graphic novel by American author Dav Pilkey, credited on the cover as in-universe authors George Beard and Harold Hutchins. The book is a spin-off of Pilkey's Captain Underpants series. It follows a baby named Billy who gains superpowers shortly after birth. Billy teams up with a super-powered dog, Diaper Dog, to fight Diaper Dog's former master, a sentient piece of feces named Deputy Dangerous.

Baby Talk is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from March 8, 1991, until May 8, 1992, as part of ABC's TGIF lineup. The show was loosely based on the Look Who's Talking films and was adapted for television by Ed. Weinberger. Amy Heckerling created characters for the series while using key creative and script elements from Look Who's Talking, which she had written and directed. Weinberger served as executive producer during the first season, and was replaced by Saul Turteltaub and Bernie Orenstein in the second season.

<i>Look Whos Talking Now!</i> American comedy film

Look Who's Talking Now! is a 1993 American romantic comedy film, a sequel to Look Who's Talking Too, the third film and final installment overall in the Look Who's Talking franchise. Directed by Tom Ropelewski from a script written by Tom Ropelewski and Leslie Dixon, the film included John Travolta and Kirstie Alley reprising their roles as James and Mollie Ubriacco, respectively, while David Gallagher and Tabitha Lupien portray Mikey and Julie, respectively. Danny DeVito and Diane Keaton provide the voices for the internal voices of the family's newly acquired dogs Rocks and Daphne, respectively. The plot centers around the competitive nature of the two animals, vying for the family's affection. Lysette Anthony, Olympia Dukakis, George Segal and Charles Barkley feature in the supporting cast. Bruce Willis, Joan Rivers, and Roseanne Barr do not reprise their roles from the previous installments. Produced by TriStar Pictures, it was released on November 5, 1993.

Twink Caplan is an American actress, comedian, and producer. She is best known for her roles in the box office hits Clueless (1995) and the Look Who's Talking series. As a producer, her best-known projects are Clueless (1996) and its television spin-off.

Neal Israel is an American film and television director, screenwriter, and producer best known for his comedic work in the 1980s for films such as Police Academy, Real Genius, and Bachelor Party. Israel has also directed episodes for several TV shows, including The Fresh Beat Band, Lizzie McGuire, Zeke and Luther, Dog with a Blog, and I Didn't Do It.

Takayuki Haga, better known by the stage name George Tokoro, is a Japanese comedian, TV personality, singer-songwriter, and essayist. Born in Tokorozawa, Saitama, he attended Takushoku University's Commercial Science class.

<i>From Paris with Love</i> (film) 2010 French film

From Paris with Love is a 2010 English-language French action thriller film directed by Pierre Morel and starring John Travolta and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. The screenplay was co-written by Luc Besson. The film was released in the United States on February 5, 2010, by Lionsgate Films and both in the United Kingdom and Japan by Warner Bros. Pictures.

<i>Fat Actress</i> 2005 American TV series or program

Fat Actress is an American comedy television series starring Kirstie Alley. In the United States, it aired on Showtime from March 7 to April 18, 2005. The series was created and written by Alley and Brenda Hampton.

Town Without Pity is a song written by composer Dimitri Tiomkin and lyricist Ned Washington. The track, produced by Aaron Schroeder, was originally recorded by Gene Pitney for the 1961 film of the same title. In the US, the Gene Pitney recording went to #13 on the Hot 100.

Look Who's Talking is a 1989 film starring John Travolta and Kirstie Alley.

<i>Look Whos Talking</i> (franchise) Film franchise article

The Look Who's Talking franchise consists of American romantic family-comedies, including three theatrical films and a television series spin-off. The plot of each installment centers around a combined family, and their efforts to create the best lives for their infant children, while the infant children seek to help their parents through the use of an internal storytelling device, which the audience can hear. The central characters experience comedic and trying experiences that ultimately bring them closer together as a family unit.

References

  1. ↑ Wilmington, Michael (1990-12-14). "'Look Who's Talking Too' Needs a Diaper Change". LA Times. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  2. ↑ "Look Who's Talking Too". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved October 6, 2021. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  3. ↑ "CinemaScore". cinemascore.com.
  4. ↑ "UK Weekend Box Office 22nd March 1991 - 24th March 1991". www.25thframe.co.uk. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  5. ↑ Dunphy, Catherine (December 16, 1990). "Who's Talking Too is unspeakably awful". The Toronto Star . Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  6. ↑ Brownstein, Bill (December 17, 1990). "Makers of infantile Look Who's Talking sequel should throw in the diaper". The Gazette . Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  7. ↑ Potter, Greg (December 17, 1990). "Look who's talking about toilet training, and little else". Vancouver Sun . Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  8. ↑ Armstrong, David (December 14, 1990). "Talking babies get old fast". San Francisco Examiner . Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  9. ↑ Siskel, Gene (December 28, 1990). "Siskel's Flicks Picks". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  10. ↑ Murray, Steve (December 17, 1990). "Baby formula gets warmed over". Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  11. ↑ Kohn, Martin F. (December 18, 1990). "Sequel teeters on flimsy plot". Detroit Free Press . Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  12. ↑ Lyman, David (December 17, 1990). "'Talking Too' suffers from sequel sickness". The Cincinnati Post . Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  13. ↑ Murphy, Ryan (December 18, 1990). "Too: a soulless sequel". The Miami Herald . Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  14. ↑ Look Who's Talking Too at Box Office Mojo
  15. ↑ Evan Frook, John (June 26, 1992). "Col TriStar tide rising overseas". Daily Variety . p. 1.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.