LOOK WHO'S TALKING TOO

US, 1990, 81 minutes, Colour.
John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Olympia Dukakis, Elias Koteas, Voices of Bruce Willis, Mel Brooks, Damon Wayans, Rosanne.
Directed by Amy Heckerling.

Look Who's Talking Too is a variation on the original. John Travolta and Kirstie Alley do very well in their comic roles - though they have to be a bit raucous in a rather contrived fight and estrangement. Bruce Willis is once again the voice of the baby but is joined by Roseanne Barr as his younger sister and Damon Wayans as Eddie, a black neighbour. Olympia Dukakis reappears as Kirstie Alley's mother and Elias Koteas is her wacky brother.

The film opens just like the original with the conception of the baby, who then starts to talk. There are some engaging comic touches, the focus on the babies and their vocalising their thoughts and feelings. However, it lacks the novelty of the original as well as the sense of tension with Molly trying to find a husband. However, it is enjoyably slight entertainment with an affirmation of life, babies and family.

1.Entertaining comedy? Impact of the original? Variations on a theme?

2.New York settings, homes and apartments, the parks? Atmosphere for this kind of comedy?

3.The title, the play on words? The comic voices of the babies? The device of the voice-over, the adult comments on behaviour, the babylike comments? The contrast between Bruce Willis and Roseanne Barr?

4.The focus on babies, the credits and the conception of the baby done in animation? The impact of pregnancy, birth? Children and their first impressions, growing up? Siblings, love and sibling rivalry? The relationship of parents to baby? Spoiling baby? Excluding the older child? The imaginative and fantasy touches with the babies, especially Mikey's dream (and the voice of Mel Brooks as the toilet man)?

5.Jimmy and Molly, their married life, love for Mikey and bringing him up, the conception of Julie, her birth (and Jimmy fainting)? The two babies at home, life at home? The background of Jimmy's work, the taxi, Mikey in the front seat of the taxi? The criticisms by Molly's mother? The visits to their home? The arrangement for the extra job, the flying? A boost for Jimmy? Tension for Molly? Clashes at home, their arguments, authority about bringing up the children, Molly wanting to be right? Their clash, Jimmy walking out? Taking the children out, in the park, to the kindergarten gymnasium? Jimmy and his Elvis Presley dance routine with the babies? The continued estrangement and arguments? The return, Molly going to the airport? Stuart in charge of the children? Mikey going to the potty and the reconciliation? The ups and downs of married life?

6.Stuart, his manic style, moving in, wearing Jimmy's clothes, eating habits? The gun? The accounting? Molly's girlfriend, her attitude towards men and their eating habits? Being robbed, moving in? Palling up with Stuart? The burglar, Stuart and the fight, the gun, the chase? The fire and the rescue?

7.Molly's mother and father, the mother's dominance, arranging jobs?

8.The business world, accountancy, firms, people getting advice (about cafes that don't work)? Tax accounts? The bosses?

9.The build-up to the fire, Mikey rescuing Julie, Jimmy putting out the fire, the reconciliation and the babies walking off together?

10.Eddie and his worldly-wise comments, friendship with Mikey, playing together, the advice about the toilet?

11.Popular comedy, the slight touch, situation comedy styles? The details of babies' life, growing up, relationships?