The Dutch asocial family is back and this time, they are taking America, or rather, New York, by storm.
An exchange program has been proposed between the United States and the Netherlands. In an effort to make things right as he seeks fit, the mayor of Zonnedael proposes to send the Flodder family to the United States for a year. To ensure things go as planned, longtime ally and City Council member Sjakie joins the family. However, the second the family gets on the plane, chaos ensues and as if that is not bad enough, upon arrival, the family are mistaken for a Russian delegation of doctors.
At a party for the delegation, the pompous Geoffrey sets his sights on daughter Kees and is infatuated with her. Meanwhile, when the foundation learns who the Flodders really are, they are kicked out of their hotel and forced to sleep in the park. Meanwhile, Sjakie, having lost the family at the airport due to the mixup, finds himself with nowhere to go. When the family fights off a trio of robbers, they are thanked by the victim, club owner Larry Rosenbaum. Hearing their story, Larry comes up with an idea to help not only his business but to help out the Flodder family. How can any of this go wrong?
Six years later, they are back! Dick Maas brings the family you would not want as neighbors back in an all-new adventure. This time around, a Griswold-like switch is imminent as the younger characters of Toet and Henkie are played by brand new actors yet Huub Stapel, Nelly Frijda, Rene van’t Hof, and Tatjana Simic all return to reprise their roles. While Stapel admitted he later returned to the role because of the money, he still makes his role of the reckless Johnny work quite well here and once again, Nelly Frijda truly shows why she is perfectly cast as the cigar-chomping, hard-drinking Ma Flodder. Remember the scene in National Lampoon’s European Vacation where Clark Griswold accidentally forces the plane to hit the Statue of Liberty’s torch? That’s nothing compared to what happens to Lady Liberty when the Flodders arrive.
The brother & sister with the same name, Kees, tend to have some sort of “special relationship” and yes, that is exactly what we are talking about. However, that doesn’t last long as son Kees has a fantasy while seeing African-American women play basketball and daughter Kees is more tame with her antics yet her assets are still implied and in one scene shown. However, Tatjana Simic is not just known for her looks but as an accomplished pop singer by this time, Maas has her perform a song in the film. Lou Landre once again brings some funny comedy to the role of ally Sjakie, who finds himself in one bad thing after another.
With the film shot on location in New York City, American actors were brought in to help bring the international flavor of the film. Jon Polito plays the club owner who becomes the biggest asset to the Flodders’ adapting to New York life. Lonny Price, best known for playing Max Kellerman’s annoying son in Dirty Dancing, practically plays the same type of character, an annoying nouveau riche man who is more or less, a stalker for daughter Kees, who pretty much wants nothing to do with him yet he insists. Chuck Jeffreys, currently a fight choreographer for the likes of Wesley Snipes amongst others, plays one of a trio of robbers who finds themselves the victim of the “Flodders of fury” and look out for a cameo appearance by a future “Big Pussy” himself, The Sopranos‘ Vincent Pastore, as a clubgoer who falls victim to son Kees’ scheme of siphoning gas while posing as a valet.
Flodder in Amerika is a fun sequel involving the family that melds the Clampetts and the Griswolds as they wreak havoc in New York City.
WFG RATING: B+
First Floor Features presents a Flodder II B.V. production. Director: Dick Maas. Producers: Laurens Geels and Dick Maas. Writer: Dick Maas. Cinematography: Marc Felperlaan. Editing: Hans van Dongen
Cast: Huub Stapel, Nelly Frijda, Rene van’t Hof, Tatjana Simic, Lou Landre, Jon Polito, Mandy Negerman, Meele de Boer, Lonny Price, Colin Stinton, Deidre Harrison, Amanda Redington, Chuck Jeffreys, David Lomax, Andy Duppin, Bert Andre, Lettie Oosthoek.
WorldFilmGeek 