Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
"Der Bockerer 2" is an Austrian production from 1996 and the main language in here is German. This film has its 20th anniversary this year. The title already says that this is the second Bockerer film and so far four have been made. It took 15 years for this sequel to be made, so lead actor Merkatz (who won a German Film Award for the first) and writer and director Antel (who also directed the first) had aged considerably. But this did not keep them from making 2 more Bockerer films. Antel is dead now, Merkatz still alive and acting, but it seems unlikely a fifth film will follow at some point. I am not sad about this at all. The good thing is that I did not find this sequel worse than the original film. The bad thing is that I found the first film entirely forgettable really. The cast here are probably mostly Austrian actors that are not known in Germany. The only name that sounds familiar is Alexander Wussow, son of Klausjürgen Wussow. There is a bit of a romance plot in here about a couple getting marries, but otherwise the film is similar to the first, only that it plays later. You will find many historical references and it's not as dramatic as the first film I get, but rather takes the comedy route. Comedy already existed in the first, but not as frequent and obvious as in this sequel. But of course you will also get some subtle jokes in here and the usual Austrian brand of humor. Not enough in terms of quality and quantity though for a 100-minute movie. I give it a thumbs-down. Not recommended.
