HARD CORE LOGO 2 directed by Bruce McDonald, written by McDonald and Dave Griffith, with McDonald, Care Failure, Julian Richings and Adrien Dorval. An Alliance release. 96 minutes, Opens Friday (April 13). For venues and times, see Movies. Rating: NNN
Hard Core Logo 2 is more a companion piece than a sequel, yet it succeeds on its own odd, self-conscious terms.
Director Bruce McDonald stars as a fictionalized version of himself who returns to documentary filmmaking when Care Failure (also playing herself) claims to be possessed by Joe Dick, giving the director a chance to confront the guilt associated with possibly causing the punk’s death.
Filled with intriguing ideas and self-effacing humour, this Charlie Kaufmanesque meta-comedy shoves aside the original film in favour of an examination of documentary ethics. (Logo 1 fans will be happy to see the amusing return of side character Bucky Haight.)
McDonald probably slides too far down his metaphysical rabbit hole in the closing scenes, but this is still one of his best films in recent years.
