Ferry 2

As "Ferry 2" (2024 release from the Netherlands, Ferry, now living in Costa Del Sol as "Andre", gets contacted by his niece (the daughter of Ferry's sister), who is in trouble for a drug deal gone bad. Reluctantly Ferry comes back to Holland... At this point we are 10 minutes into the movie.

Couple of comments: you may recall that the character of "Ferry" was part of the Flemish TV series "Undercover" (3 seasons over 2019-2022). In fact, "Ferry" became so popular that he got a prequel movie out of it called "Ferry (2021), and then his own mini-series called, wait for it: "Ferry The Series" (2022). It was all OK, and a fair amount of people enjoyed it (including myself). Two more years later comes yet another movie starring Ferry (Dutch actor Frank Lammers), and the question is... why? There is nothing new under the sun, the XTC story line(s) are rehashed yet once again. And there are no surprises of any kind, none. In the end, this is like the most predictable of comfort foods: you kinda enjoy it while you are watching it, but it all feels rather empty-handed at the end of it. Listen, Ferry had a good run, but this latest sequel really wasn't needed.

"Ferry 2" (I guess the film makers were so empty of new ideas, they really couldn't even come up with a snappier title than this?) is now streaking on Netflix. If you are a fan of the original "Undercover" TV series, or of the "Ferry" character in particular, I'd suggest you check this out, with lowered expectations, and draw your own conclusion.

The film Ferry 2 fails to capture the charm and strength that made the Undercover series and the first Ferry movie so beloved. The storyline feels completely disconnected, with little to no relation to the original plot. What remains is an overused concept that comes across as forced rather than innovative.

One of the film's major weaknesses is its casting. The younger actors, particularly Aiko Beemsterboer, deliver performances that are unconvincing and shallow, making every scene she's in feel artificial. Similarly, Jonas Smulders, who plays the rival mob boss, is a poor casting choice. His character lacks the intensity and menace expected of a crime boss, leaving no lasting impression.

The script and direction also fall short. The final scenes are so implausible that they feel entirely out of place within the story. While the previous installments maintained a certain level of realism and suspense, Ferry 2 comes across as a failed attempt to keep the franchise alive.

Overall, Ferry 2 is a letdown. Fans of the series and the first film will likely find this sequel disappointing and disjointed. Sometimes, it's better to end a story on a high note rather than milk it dry and lose what made it special in the first place.

After the success of the original series and the first spin-off movie, Ferry 2 feels like a bad trip-or worse, an overdose-in multiple ways. What could have been a worthy continuation of an intriguing storyline instead devolves into a poorly executed cash grab that leaves me (and apparently other fans) disillusioned.

The casting of the co-lead characters is, quite frankly, appalling. There's little chemistry or believability in their performances, which only serves to magnify the shallowness of the three main supporting roles. These one-dimensional characters are unconvincing at best, cartoonishly unrealistic at worst. Their lack of depth makes it nearly impossible to connect, care or remember about their presence in the story.

The film's scenario, scenery and events (cooking meth and firing a gun unnoticed in a Police/Fire-station) are riddled with flaws and inconsistencies-many of which have been pointed out in other reviews as well. From plot holes to poorly thought-out sequences, the narrative fails to hold up under even minimal scrutiny. It's clear that neither the writers nor the directors invested the necessary effort to craft a compelling or cohesive story.

And then there's Ferry himself, portrayed by Frank Lammers. While his performance remains solid, his omnipresence in commercials airing hundreds of times a day during this holiday season in the Netherlands creates an overexposure that detracts from the character's impact. It's a shame that Netflix and the director's team opted for this money-driven -Christmas-time release-shortcut rather than focusing on the quality and originality that made the franchise successful in the first place.

In the end, Ferry2 feels like an unnecessary addition that tarnishes what could have been a strong legacy. For me, they should have left Ferry where he was and redirected their efforts toward creating a fresh, compelling narrative. This sequel is a another glaring reminder that not every story needs to be stretched to its limits-and beyond.

Obviously you go in to see Ferry Bouman yet this time around it is actor Jonas Smulders that carries the movie. Where the first film was a great movie, Ferry 2 falls somewhat short. The story isn't the most interesting but manages to be entertaining enough. Bouman feels a bit old in the film, his main rival however does a wonderful job. The characters in general besides Bouman and the rival feel somewhat empty, they could have done more to make the viewer connect with them. It's a pitty really as again the first movie had it all. Then it does leave some space open for a third, which if being made we would all surely hope would do a better job than Ferry 2.

Ferry the serie had so many good actors and a fitting storyline. From there the level start to decline. Now in Ferry 2 we see that Frank Lammers is not able to carry the entire movie. So many good characters have been cut out of the series/movie such a shame. Bad storyline where a bunch of bad acting kids with the same behaviour in a dangerous world. Everything is tattered and now they like so many other follow ups after succes. Nowhere has been searched for the deepness. I really think this is a missed opportunity. If they put a little bit more experienced actors in the movie Frank would be able to make it legend again.