Airplane II: The Sequel

Airplane II: The Sequel is a parody film directed by Ken Finkleman, released in 1982. The movie is a sequel to the 1980 film Airplane!, also a parody of disaster movies. Airplane II: The Sequel follows the adventures of Ted Striker, played by Robert Hays, a former pilot with a complicated past. The story begins with Ted and his love interest, Elaine Dickinson, played by Julie Hagerty, still trying to work through their relationship issues. Elaine, a flight attendant, decides to leave her job on the passenger space shuttle, which is about to embark on a mission to Mars. However, a malfunctioning computer system, known as the "OCP-18," causes the shuttle to veer off course and head straight towards the sun. As the shuttle hurtles towards its catastrophic destination, the crew attempts to rectify the situation by restarting the computer system, but this results in a series of comical mishaps. Meanwhile, Ted, feeling guilty for his past mistakes, decides to return to the space shuttles mission control to prevent the impending disaster. Upon his arrival, Ted discovers that the mission control team, comprised of a group of eccentric scientists, is unable to communicate with the shuttle due to a technical issue known as "The Big Problem." The computer system has been reinstalled 37 times, only to fail each time. Frustrated and overwhelmed, the team is at a loss for what to do. As Ted tries to help the mission control team, he is repeatedly thwarted by his own ineptitude and his lack of knowledge in the field of computer systems. Despite his lack of expertise, Ted is determined to save the day and get the shuttle back on track. In an attempt to connect with the shuttle's computer system, Ted begins to have conversations with the OCP-18, using his wit and charm to attempt to outsmart the system. However, this results in a series of humorous exchanges between Ted and the computer, with the OCP-18 repeatedly referring to Ted as a "clueless oaf." As the shuttle continues to hurtle towards the sun, Ted's attempts to communicate with the computer system become more and more desperate. He begins to rely on his instincts, using his knowledge of old computer systems to try and outmaneuver the OCP-18. The mission control team, comprised of a cast of eccentric and bumbling characters, provides much of the comedic relief in the film. The team includes a scientist with an over-the-top personality, played by Peter McCarthy, and a computer expert who becomes infatuated with the OCP-18, played by Roberta Weiss. Throughout the film, Ted's relationship with Elaine is also explored. The two characters are shown to be struggling to reconcile their differences, with Elaine feeling increasingly frustrated by Ted's lack of commitment. However, as the mission unfolds, the couple is forced to put their differences aside and work together to save the shuttle and its crew. As the final act of the film approaches, Ted's attempts to contact the shuttle become more and more urgent. Using his knowledge of old computer systems, Ted finally manages to connect with the OCP-18 and convince it to change its course. The shuttle is forced to make an emergency landing on the moon, where the crew must survive until help arrives. In the end, Ted's determination and resourcefulness ultimately save the day, and he is reunited with Elaine. The film concludes with a tongue-in-cheek nod to the disaster genre, with the OCP-18 commenting that it has learned a valuable lesson from its encounter with Ted: "Never under any circumstances trust a human male in a space suit."