Super Troopers 3: A Misstep in the Legacy of a Cult Classic
The Super Troopers franchise, a beloved cult classic, has returned with its third installment, Super Troopers 3. While the original film was a refreshing take on the cop comedy genre, this latest addition falls flat, missing the mark in several ways.
The first Super Troopers was a testament to the power of friendship and a clever rebuttal to the mundane TV cops. It introduced a group of incompetent, yet lovable, troopers who brought a breath of fresh air to the genre. Brian Cox's portrayal of a capital-A Actor, gleefully playing against type, was a highlight, and the film's success led to a franchise.
However, Super Troopers 3 fails to capture the magic of its predecessors. The film feels forced and lacks the natural humor that made the original so endearing. The racial and ethnic jokes, once a strength, now come across as forced and uninspired. The characters, once fresh and unique, now appear tired and overweight, as if they're just punching the clock on their gravy train.
One of the main issues with the film is the overemphasis on Farva, played by Kevin Heffernan. Farva, who was a foil in the first film and a change of pace in the second, gets a close-up in this installment. While it may be to the chagrin of Jay Chandrasekhar, who plays Farva's rival Thorny, the focus on Farva feels forced. The tension between Farva and Thorny, meant to be the heart of the film, falls flat.
The Indian wedding arc, a significant part of the A-story, feels out of place. The parents' meeting, costume fittings, and bachelor party are cringe-worthy and lack the natural humor of the original films. The drug-smuggling case, a secondary plot, is also underdeveloped and feels like a mere afterthought.
One thing that stands out is the attempt to make the troopers feel more real by having them age and change. However, this approach is problematic. Cartoons, which are not expected to grow or reckon with the passage of time, don't age nearly as poorly as the troopers. The troopers' inability to grow and change makes them seem outdated and disconnected from the real world.
The franchise could have taken a different route, passing the baton to a new generation, as many franchises do by their third installment. However, even this would not have overcome the central problem: the idea of cops as an uncomplicated source of screwball comedy is no longer relevant. Policing has become a subject of intense public scrutiny, and the pop culture image of police as sterling heroes is no longer untouchable.
Super Troopers 3 willfully ignores this reality, and that's what truly dates the franchise. Chandrasekhar and the Broken Lizard crew may have thought a third Super Troopers would be a fun trip down memory lane, but it's an object lesson in how their cop jokes may have done more to venerate America's most mythologized authority figures than subvert them.
In conclusion, Super Troopers 3 is a misstep in the legacy of a cult classic. While it may be fun for fans of the original films, it fails to capture the magic and relevance of the first two installments. The film's forced humor, outdated characters, and disregard for the current social climate make it a disappointment. Perhaps it's time for the franchise to hang up its badges and move on to new adventures.
