-via IMDB.com
I read somewhere once that Joe Dante, director of the original Gremlins, was unhappy with how that movie played out. He had a different vision in mind and was restricted by the studio and the producers, including Steven Spielberg. I have no idea if this is true or not, I like the idea. The first movie had some problems, in my opinion, and felt a little racist. I know that's hard to explain but I definitely had that feeling watching it, the Gremlins were set up as menacing and played to the fears of small-town, white America. Dante initially declined to do the sequel but finally acquiesced when he was offered total freedom in his story. This one is very definite different.
The opening featuring Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck give you all the info you need about the movie. Dante has made a feature length Looney Tunes cartoon. Gone is the menacing Gremlins, replaced by cartoon characters who are unleashing comedic chaos in a building in New York City. The movie is also an homage to classic sci-fi, monster movies and screwball comedies, made explicit by the fact many Gremlins are watching different movie clips throughout the film.
Zach Galligan and Phoebe Cates are back as Billy and Kate from the first film, working in the high-tech Clamp building, owned by Daniel Clamp, a take-off on Donald Trump, played by John Glover. Gizmo is back as well, he's more expressive and imprisoned by a genetics lab in the building. Rescued by Billy, stuff happens, he gets wet and "births" four more Mogwai who immediately go crazy on him. These fellows are zany and Looney, one is even named Daffy and does an interesting impression of Daffy Duck in the early years. The quartet goes Gremlin, birth a bunch of more of them and get into the genetics lab and get all sorts of mutations. Zaniness follows (zany and its variations are favourite words, if you haven't noticed by now).
And you know what? I liked it. A lot.
It is quite fun and, well, Looney. Bugs and Daffy even return a second time. See it, enjoy it, think about it as a big cartoon, you will think it's fun too.
