The film is set in a British zoo that is acquired by a ruthless media mogul, Rod McCain (Kevin Kline), who wants to increase its profits by replacing the cute animals with fierce ones.
The zoo’s director, Rollo Lee (John Cleese), comes up with a scheme to make the existing animals appear more dangerous, while the zookeepers, led by the eccentric Adrian “Bugsy” Malone (Michael Palin), try to sabotage his plan.
Meanwhile, Rod’s son Vince (also played by Kevin Kline), and his business partner Willa Weston (Jamie Lee Curtis), arrive to oversee the zoo’s operations, and both fall in love with Rollo.
The film is a satire of corporate greed, media sensationalism, and animal exploitation. It also features many references and jokes about the previous film, such as Kevin Kline playing two roles, John Cleese being attacked by animals, and Michael Palin having a speech impediment.
The film was less successful than A Fish Called Wanda, both critically and commercially, but it still has a cult following among fans of the original film.
The Ice Storm: A Drama About Family Dysfunction
The Ice Storm is a 1997 drama film directed by Ang Lee and written by James Schamus, based on the 1994 novel of the same name by Rick Moody. It stars Kevin Kline as Ben Hood, a suburban father who has an affair with his neighbor Janey Carver (Sigourney Weaver), while his wife Elena (Joan Allen) and his children Wendy (Christina Ricci) and Paul (Tobey Maguire) deal with their own issues.
The film is set in 1973, during the Watergate scandal and the sexual revolution, and depicts the moral decay and emotional detachment of the upper-middle-class families in Connecticut. The film also features Elijah Wood, Katie Holmes, and Allison Janney in supporting roles.
The film is a bleak and realistic portrayal of the American Dream gone sour, and the consequences of infidelity, alienation, and repression. It is also a visual masterpiece, with stunning cinematography and production design that capture the mood and atmosphere of the 1970s.
