Beastmaster 2

Those with a fondness for sword-and-sorcery camp may recall 1982's The Beastmaster, which featured a loincloth-clad Marc Singer doing battle against the forces of evil with the aid of his animal friends--whom he communicated with. Singer returns in this sequel as Dar, along with his pet ferrets (Kodo and Podo), his eagle (Sharak), and his tiger (Rhu). This time out, Dar is pitted against the evil Zarklon (B-video stalwart Wings Hauser), and his recently acquired main squeeze, Witch (Sarah Douglas). Witch has found a "time and space portal" which takes the cast to modern-day L.A., where Zarklon wishes to get hold of a "nuclear detonator" for use back in his world. Unfortunately, Dar finds an ally in valley girl Jackie Trent (MTV disc jockey Kari Wuhrer, whose talents do not include acting). Together, Dar, Jackie, and the travelling zoo chase Zarklon down L.A.'s mean streets until the climactic swordfight in Griffith Park. Beastmaster 2 gets off to a suitably campy start in Dar's world, but quickly fades to a series of tired new-alien-in-town jokes once the film shifts to L.A. Even fans of the genre are likely to be disappointed. Not recommended. (R. Pitman)