Caddyshack II (released in theaters on July 22, 1988) swings onto the screen as a wild, irreverent 1988 comedy sequel that trades the country club elitism of its predecessor for a boisterous, working-class revenge story.
Directed by Allan Arkush, the plot centers on Jack Hartounian (Jackie Mason), a wealthy, unpretentious construction tycoon who built his fortune from scratch.
When his socially ambitious daughter Kate (Jessica Lundy) tries to gain acceptance among the high-society elite at the exclusive Bushwood Country Club, Jack attempts to fit in by applying for membership.
However, the club’s aristocratic board – led by the pompous Chandler Young (Robert Stack) and his haughty wife Cynthia (Dina Merrill) – callously rejects Jack due to his crass behavior and loud, ostentatious style, deeply hurting his daughter’s feelings.
Determined to avenge the snub, Jack executes a hostile takeover of Bushwood along with his attorney Peter Blunt (Randy Quaid), buying out the majority shares and transforming the pristine, snooty haven into a chaotic, neon-lit amusement park named “Jack’s Bushwood.”
Enraged by the desecration of their country club, Chandler and the snooty board hire Captain Tom Everett (Dan Aykroyd), an unhinged, heavily armed mercenary who embarks on a bizarre guerilla war against Jack, while also contending with the return of Bushwood’s infamous, explosive-resistant gopher.
Along the way, Jack receives advice from playboy golfer Ty Webb (Chevy Chase), strikes up a romance with a quirky interior designer, Elizabeth Pearce (Dyan Cannon), and finds allies in a young caddy (Jonathan Silverman), and a sharp-tongued club worker (Marsha Warfield).
The escalating feud culminates in a high-stakes, hilarious golf match against Chandler, with ownership of the club on the line.
Brian McNamara, Chynna Phillips and Paul Bartel round out the cast.
Chevy Chase in Caddyshack II (Photo/Warner Bros.)
Reception for Caddyshack II
Caddyshack II grossed $4.4 million on its opening weekend, finishing eighth at the box office.
The film would gross $11.8 million in its theatrical run.
4% of 24 critics’ reviews of Caddyshack II are positive, with an average rating of 2.8/10 on Rotten Tomatoes.
Legacy
Caddyshack II‘s legacy is widely recognized by fans of the original Caddyshack as one of the most famously notorious sequels in Hollywood history.
While it faced steep criticism upon release for attempting to recreate the lightning-in-a-bottle improvised magic of the 1980 original without key cast members like Bill Murray or Rodney Dangerfield, the movie has earned a distinct place in cult pop culture.
