Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsNot as good as SA #1...Tried too hard on this one
Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2015
...the first Smokin' Aces had this chaotic type feel to it. The million dollar bounty was thrown out there, and within a DAY an eclectic group of assassins scurry to get the job done first and cash in on that big fat million. SA #1 was cool and raw and fast. But this video, Smokin' Aces #2 felt too...I don't know...too over-thought. Too complicated. Too planed. I think what happened was, with probably a bigger budget, and star power like Tom Berenger, Tommy Flanagan, and Ernie Hudson on board, I believe the directors tried to improve on something that only the first SA's could pull off: Unpredictability. This #2 was too polished. It was too complicated. It was more of an espionage, mystery thriller with the crazy Tremor family thrown in there to try to catch that craziness from the first SA; desperately trying to copy the same feel the all out free for all that made SA #1 a cult hit. Smokin' Aces #1 didn't do too shabby at the box office, but the video was super popular, I've rented it at least three times myself. But I think once was enough with this vid...it's like a second try by a one trick pony; it was a cool trick the first time, but getting better ponies and trying the same trick DIDN'T make it a better trick..? Nah...didn't work for me. Three stars.
