First it was the Fourth Reich. Now, chaos in the form of a new race is set in the long-awaited sequel to the 2012 sci-fi comedy cult classic!
It is the year 2047 and the nuclear war pitting the world powers against the Fourth Reich had resulted not only in the overthrow of the Reich, but humanity is now forced to live on the moon base once occupied by the Nazis. In charge of finding ways to make co-existence possible are former Nazi teacher Renate Richter and her daughter, Obi Washington. Donald, a religious zealot, has formed a new religion called “Jobsism”, which follows the teachings of Steve Jobs. However, one fateful day, Obi and Renate, the latter suffering a near fatal disease, is visited by the former and still alive Mondführer, Wolfgang Kortzfleisch.
Kortzfleisch has a special medicine called Vrilla and is able to cure Renate. He informs the two of a new race called the Vril, reptilian aliens who thanks to a formula he created that gives the Vril human forms in the forms of world leaders. Obi is asked by Korstfleisch to go to the planet Agarmath to broker a peace deal with the Vril. Obi is joined by reluctant pilot Sasha and guard Malcolm on the mission while Renate recuperates. Obi soon learns that the mission is a setup and finds her and her crew under attack by the Vril, with no help from Donald, who intends to find a new place for his Jobsists. However, nothing compares to an ultimate plan set in motion for a takeover of the universe.
It has been years in the making, but director Timo Vuorensola and his crew are back with this crownfunded sequel to the 2012 epic cult classic. If you thought that the Fourth Reich hatching a plan to take back the Earth was insane, how would you feel if a reptilian race who takes on human forms attempt to wreak havoc in the universe? Sounds like a good concept, only one that Vuorensola and team came come up. However, the only problem is that it suffers from something seen in films before: too many ideas in one film causing overload and as a result, it can get a bit tired in certain points in the film.
That doesn’t stop the cast from making the most of what they bring to the film. Returning from the original film, Julia Dietze’s Renate Richter goes from lead to main supporting role as she is faced with an affliction. However, we do learn that she and our astronaut hero had a daughter, Obi, who is the lead and is well played by Lara Rossi. Also returning from the original film is the legendary Udo Kier, who like in the previous film, is having fun as he has not one, but two roles. He not only returns as the former Mondführer Korstfleisch, but in a very bold and yet still fun experience on a what the (censored) level, he is the Vril form of the Führer himself, Adolf Hitler.
Now, after seeing Freddy Got Fingered as one of the worst movies I have seen, I nearly lost all hope for Tom Green. However, for this film, playing the religious Jobism zealot Donald, Green doesn’t have to rely on his one-time goofball antics that leads to gross-out humor. In fact, he plays the role as someone who thrives on the religion to a level of sinister. And the best part is, it actually works here. So, it does give him a bit of redemption. Kit Dean, an Australian martial artist turned actor, is pretty funny at times as Malcolm, the guard who is on Obi’s side but his fight with some particular dinosaurs in a mashup of Jurassic Park/World and bare-knuckle brawling film is a bit much. If there has to be an award for most annoying co-lead in a film, it goes to Vladimir Burlakov’s Sasha. From his introductory scene, he brings this style of goofiness and anxiety to the role on a high annoyance level. One would have expected Malcolm to be the co-lead and it would have been more fitting, even with the character twist towards the finale. Instead, we have a character who isn’t funny and makes viewers have a low tolerance for annoyance.
In conclusion, Iron Sky: The Coming Race has its moments. However, with a story with a bit too much in terms of elements and a very annoying co-lead, it is safe to say that the original will always reign supreme.
WFG RATING: C-
Vertical Entertaiment presents an Iron Sky Universe production in association with 27 Films Productions and Potemkino. Director: Timo Vuorensola. Producers: Tero Kaukomaa, Oliver Damian, Peter De Maegd, Tom Hameeuw, and Timo Vuorensola. Writers: Dalan Musson and Timo Vuorensola; based on a story and characters created by Jarmo Puskala, Johanna Sinisalo, and Samuli Torssonen. Cinematography: Mika Orasmaa. Editing: Jan Hameeuw and Joona Louhivuori.
Cast: Lara Rossi, Vladimir Burlakov, Kit Dale, Julia Dietze, Stephanie Paul, Tom Green, Udo Kier, John Flanders, James Quinn, Emily Atack, Martin Swabey.
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