The Iron Ladies II

As much as the first movie was good, this sequel turned out to be somewhat disappointing and nowhere near as interesting or captivating as the first movie was.

It was nice though, to see the cast together again and revisiting their previous roles from the first movie. But storywise, then "The Iron Ladies 2: Before and After" just lacked a profound red thread and that special ingredient which was present in the first movie.

The story is about how The Iron Ladies have broken up due to differences and how they manage to get back together, having to conquer various personal and team differences in order to reunite in the former glory. This time they are taking on a team that resembles a mockery of their own, being an almost copy of their original team.

Where the first movie was sassy and lovable, the sequel comes off as a rushed movie, forged with the iron was still hot - or while The Iron Ladies was still hot, so to speak. Sort of like a rushed attempt to cash in on the fame of the first movie. And the end result comes out as half-hearted and lacking the charisma, sassy wits and genuine lovable nature that was ever-present in the first movie.

It should be said that the cast still pull off good performances, but they just didn't have a proper script or proper story to work with.

If you have seen the first "The Iron Ladies" movie and enjoyed it, then you might want to check out the sequel as well. However, just be warned that it is not up to par with the first movie, not by a long shot. Where I rated the first movie 7 out of 10 stars, then this sequel have to settle for a mediocre 5 stars out of 10.

They should leave the initial movie alone. In summary, the whole plot is a complete mess. It emphasizes more on the individuals' background (which is of no use and weak/no relevance to this movie), instead of the team as a whole and the volleyball competition. Poor acting skills - unnatural acting (not because they are gays, definitely). There are lots of exaggerating moments - too much shrieking, characters jumping around and tantrum throwers. The pace is too fast, in a haste and thoughtless. I am not suggesting that the movie should be made longer but it should have substance, connection and relevant to each event/ scenario. Viewers should avoid this tasteless-made movie and instead choose Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (same genre).

"The Iron Ladies" is my absolute favourite movie, so while I was absolutely thrilled to hear that a sequel had been made, I was hopeful that the sequel, frankly, wouldn't suck. The last thing I wanted was an awful sequel (remember "Sister Act 2"?) that would ruin my love for the original. Thankfully, I was thrilled with the results.

The acting is certainly better, but there are a few inconspicuous holes in the plot and the script is a bit lame at times (but then again, what movie has a completely engaging script?). A copycat team of "Iron Ladies" has been formed, and they've managed to steal away Nong, April, May and June from the original team, much to Jung's chagrin. In order to try and reunite the team, everyone heads in separate groups to China, where Pia is working as a cabaret singer...of course, each group does not know the other is going. Let the love begin again!

The movie successfully manages to tell the story of how each of the team members meet, so we get to learn a lot about the background of our favourite characters (with the exception of Chai, the resident straight guy). The prequel shows us Nong's coming out, the beginnings of Pia's transition to a woman, and how the team forms a true bond. The last forty minutes or so features the "sequel" portion, where the team is reunited and plays again as one.

The plot, again, has a few minor holes, but the movie is still funny and completely enjoyable. You definitely need to see this movie if you enjoyed the original "Iron Ladies".

The film has not been released in North America, but you can purchase a Thai or Hong Kong version at several online shops (the HK version is missing a few scenes from the original Thai release, just as the Strand Releasing U.S./Canada DVD is missing a few hilarious scenes that were in the original film), and the HK version has English subtitles. DEFINITELY worth seeing!!!!