Supernatural comedy Ghostbusters represents one of the biggest surprise hits of 1980s, but the attempts to repeat its success, either through sequel or a remake, left much to be desired. Same or even more can be said about Second Sight, 1989 film directed by Joel Zwick which tried to employ the same plot formula.

The plot is set in Boston, where three protagonists work in Second Sight Detective Agency – womanising private investigator and former policeman Wilbur Wills (played by John Larroquette), eccentric psychic Bobby McGee (played by Bronson Pinchot) and parapsychologist Dr. Preston Pickett (played by Stuart Pankin). One day Sister Elizabeth (played by Bess Armstrong), Catholic nun, comes and hires them to help woman named Maria Soledad (played by Marisol Massey) track vehicle that rear-ended her car and caused 3000 US$ in damages. The investigation soon turns into something more important when Cardinal O’Hara (played by William Prince), one of the prime candidates for the next Pope, gets abducted and becomes apparent that the abductors were perpetrators of rear-ending. Bobby McGee tries his best to use his powers, but his efforts are complicated with his spiritual guide “Murray” being revealed to be Sister Elizabeth’s former (and deceased) boyfriend.

Director Joel Zwick was at the time of production best known for his television work, mainly popular sitcom Perfect Strangers, which had made Bronson Pinchot into huge star. Second Sight, which also had another major television sitcom (Night Court) star John Larroquette in the cast, not only failed to live to the potential presented by those comic talents, but actually turned into complete mess. Some of the reasons for that could be found in 1988 Writers Guild of America strike, which apparently led to original script by Thom Schulman and Patricia Resnick unfinished or unrefined, forcing actors to improvise on the set. This approach led to gaping plot holes, terrible or non-existent characterisations or and, what is the most essential to this sort of film, most jokes not being funny. Instead of entertaining, Second Sight requires many sacrifices from the audience, most of them patience and having to sit through overlong, predictable, poorly acted scenes and spending almost half running time before the actual plot dealing with kidnapping gets going. While Bronson Pinchon annoyingly overacts, Larroquette and Armstrong try to make something out of their poorly written roles, but the general impression is underwhelming. At the end of the film, like with many uninspired 1980s comedies, producers try to compensate lack of humour with action, but this only allows audience to watch some poor and unconvincing special effects. Second Sight unsurprisingly tanked at the box office and was savaged by critics. Zwick afterwards continued his career on television, with his next feature film My Big Fat Greek Wedding turning into surprise hit. Those who watch this film now might enjoy it only with the help of certain mind altering substances, but probably in amounts that represents unacceptable health risk.

RATING: 2/10 (-)

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